The Best Seed-Oil-Free Chili Crunch: Meet Wok n Tadka

Chili crunch is having a moment. It's on fried eggs at brunch, spooned over pizza on TikTok, and stocked on more pantry shelves than ever. But if you've flipped a jar around lately, you've probably noticed the same thing our friend Joan Chua did: most of them start with cheap seed oils.

Wok 'n' Tadka is the exception — a chili crunch built on organic extra virgin olive oil, real aromatics, and a genuinely craveable crunch, with no seed oils, no MSG, and no added sugar. It's the jar we couldn't stop reaching for, and it's exactly the kind of small, founder-led maker Mantry exists to put in front of you.

Here's why it earned its spot in the crate.

Chili crunch vs. chili crisp: what's the difference?

First, the question everyone's Googling. Chili crunch and chili crisp are essentially the same thing — chilies and aromatics infused in oil, with crispy, spoonable bits that add texture and heat. The names are mostly a branding choice: some makers say "crisp," others say "crunch."

Where they actually differ is in the ingredients. And that's where Wok 'n' Tadka draws a hard line: the crunch comes from a blend of real superfood seeds, and the base is olive oil — not the soybean or canola oil that quietly anchors most jars on the shelf. Same beloved condiment, cleaner build.

A seed-oil-free chili crunch, done on purpose

Like a lot of home cooks, Joan loved chili crunch but kept turning the jar around to read the label — and kept putting it back. Too many products leaned on inexpensive seed oils, fillers, or ingredients she didn't feel great about serving her family.

So she made her own. Every jar of Wok 'n' Tadka is crafted with:

• Organic extra virgin olive oil as the foundation — slowly steeped with a carefully selected blend of spices so it's infused with deep flavor and aroma before anything else goes in
• Real garlic and shallots, not powders
• Premium peppers for layered, honest heat
• Gluten-free tamari for savory depth
• A blend of sesame, flax, hemp, and pumpkin seeds — the superfood mix behind that signature crunch

No seed oils. No MSG. No added sugar. Every ingredient earns its place, balancing flavor, texture, and craftsmanship in every spoonful. If you've been searching for a seed-oil-free chili crunch that doesn't compromise on flavor, this is it.

The story: where "Wok 'n' Tadka" comes from

The name isn't a gimmick — it's a whole culinary journey in three words.

Joan grew up in the Philippines in a Chinese household, where food was always at the center of family life (that's the wok). Years later, after marrying into an Indian family, she discovered tadka — the centuries-old technique of blooming spices in hot oil to unlock incredible layers of flavor. Somewhere along the way, her kitchen became a meeting place for cultures.

That's the quiet genius of Wok 'n' Tadka: it's Chinese chili-oil tradition and Indian spice-blooming technique in the same jar. Born at the intersection of two food cultures, made for every table.

"Crunch Better" isn't just a tagline

For Wok 'n' Tadka, Crunch Better™ is a commitment: making everyday meals extraordinary, building confidence in the kitchen, and bringing both bold flavor and intention to the table. It's the philosophy behind every batch — that no one should have to choose between incredible flavor and thoughtfully chosen ingredients.

What to put chili crunch on (basically everything)

Here's the fun part. A great chili crunch turns "I don't feel like cooking" into a real meal in one spoonful. Wok 'n' Tadka is ridiculously versatile:

• Fried or soft-scrambled eggs — the gateway. Start here.
• Noodles and grain bowls — tossed straight through for instant savory heat
• Pizza — drizzled over the last slice (trust us)
• Dumplings, tacos, and sandwiches — an upgrade in one spoon
• Roasted vegetables and grilled meats — finishing texture and warmth
• Cheese, avocado toast, even ice cream if you're feeling brave

If it needs a little heat and a lot of texture, it needs chili crunch.

Find your heat level

The collection comes in three heat levels, so everyone at the table gets their perfect crunch:

• Mild — all the flavor, gentle warmth
• Spicy — the everyday sweet spot
• Extra Spicy — for the heat-seekers

Why it's in the Mantry crate

Wok 'n' Tadka is exactly what we look for: a small, founder-led company making a genuinely better version of something you already love — bold, globally inspired, and made with ingredients chosen with care. It's the kind of jar that quietly earns a permanent spot next to the stove.

This is only the beginning for the brand, too. Wok 'n' Tadka is building a family of globally inspired pantry staples that celebrate bold flavor, thoughtful ingredients, and the joy of bringing people together — one spoonful at a time.

Discover Wok 'n' Tadka and the rest of this month's makers in the Mantry crate, or learn more and shop the full collection at wokntadka.com.

Frequently asked questions

Is chili crunch the same as chili crisp? Basically, yes — both are chilies and aromatics in oil with crispy, spoonable bits. The difference comes down to the recipe and ingredients. Wok 'n' Tadka's chili crunch is made with organic olive oil and a superfood-seed crunch instead of seed oils.

Is Wok 'n' Tadka chili crunch seed-oil free? Yes. It's built on organic extra virgin olive oil with no seed oils, no MSG, and no added sugar.

Is it gluten-free? Yes — it's made with gluten-free tamari.

What does the crunch come from? A blend of sesame, flax, hemp, and pumpkin seeds — the superfood mix behind the signature texture.

How spicy is it? It comes in three heat levels: Mild, Spicy, and Extra Spicy.

What do you put chili crunch on? Start with fried eggs, then try it on noodles, pizza, dumplings, tacos, roasted vegetables, grain bowls, grilled meats, and sandwiches.