With all the cured trout and confit on display in Sunday night's MasterChef semi-final, it's difficult to believe six years ago chicken skewers and tzatziki made the MasterChef menu.

MasterChef judges have praised the top contestants, telling the semi-finals cooks they stood "in awe" of their dishes.

"Individually, we can safely saw that those six dishes were the best food we've ever tasted in this competition. Ever," judge Gary Mehigan told the final three.

Semi-finalists Billie McKay, Georgia Barnes and Jessica Arnott cooked a main and dessert for 20 guests and three judges in the final hurdle before MasterChef's grand finale.

​In honour of the dishes' "gobsmackingness" (to coin a new culinary term from an astonished Mehigan), let's take a look at Sunday night's winning dishes, and plates cooked by previous winners at the competition's pointy end.

2015 finalist Billie McKay with her dish, Roast Lamb with Mint Peas.

2015 finalist Billie McKay's Dill and Rhubarb Spider.

2015 finalist Georgia Barnes with her dish, Cured Ocean Trout with Flavours of Cucumber and Apple.

2015 finalist Georgia Barnes' Mango Sorbet with Vanilla Yoghurt Parfait.

2014 winner Brent Owens and his Pork and Apples.

2013 winner Emma Dean with her dish, Chicken Gratin and Salt Baked Spuds.

2012 winner Andy Allen and his Fish Pie.

2011 winner Kate Bracks and her Quail with Roasted Garlic Custard Asparagus Duxelle.