Can you spot the ultraprocessed foods?

Take a virtual shopping trip to learn more about what's on grocery store shelves.

Patak's Masala Tikka Spicy Paste
International & World Foods
📊 NOVA 4🌾 Gluten-Free

Patak's Masala Tikka Spicy Paste

Patak's
15 oz
Available at Foodtown
45
Calories
1g
Protein
2g
Sugars
190mg
Sodium
1g
Fiber
51
Ingredients

What You Should Know

Patak's Masala Tikka Spicy Paste arrives in a 15 oz screw-top jar and sits in the international or ethnic foods aisle near other curry pastes, jarred tikka and korma sauces, and bottled chutneys. Shoppers also often find it adjacent to meal kits, naan breads, and refrigerated yogurt marinades. It appeals to shoppers hunting for an easy shortcut to Indian flavors for weeknight dinners, weekend entertaining, or quick marinades for grilling. Brand positioning leans into an authentic South Asian heritage marketed to home cooks who want approachable, restaurant-style results without the long simmer; packaging emphasizes spice and tradition rather than kid-focused graphics. The label highlights familiar ingredients like yogurt, tomato and cream, which create a mild health halo of wholesome dairy and real spice, though the product is not labeled organic. In plain terms the paste is a processed jarred sauce designed for convenience; it contains modified starches, concentrated proteins and colorants alongside whole spices. Sensory details include a smooth, creamy texture speckled with red pepper flakes and spice flecks, a deep orange-red color, and a warm aroma of smoked paprika, cumin and ginger. Users spoon it as a marinade for chicken or vegetables, stir it into simmered curries, or thin it with cream or stock for a quick sauce; the jar format invites dipping or basting at the grill. In American grocery culture it functions as a bridge product — offering exotic flavor in an easy, familiar package for busy cooks and curious eaters alike.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 0.25 cup
Servings per Container: 7
Calories45
% Daily Value*
Total Fat2g3%
Saturated Fat0g0%
Sodium190mg8%
Total Carbohydrate6g2%
Dietary Fiber1g4%
Total Sugars2g
Added Sugars1g2%
Protein1g
* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Ingredients

Water,, Tomato,, Yogurt, (Milk,, Skim, Milk, Cream,, Bacterial, Culture),, Tomato, Paste,, Food, Starch-Modified,, Cream,, Spices, (Including, Paprika,, Turmeric, and, Smoked, Paprika),, Contains, 2%, or, Less, of, Canola, Oil,, Dried, Onion,, Sugar,, Garlic,, Ginger,, Salt,, Crushed, Red, Pepper, Flakes,, Whey, Protein, Concentrate,, Lactic, Acid,, Paprika, Oleoresin, (Color),, Cumin, Seed,, Dried, Cilantro, Leaf..

Flagged Ingredients:

  • Canola Oil - Seed oil high in omega-6 fatty acids
  • Canola Oil - Processed emulsifier
  • Paprika Oleoresin (Color) - Artificial coloring
No Seed OilNo EmulsifierNo Additive

Dietary Labels

This product is not vegan, is gluten-free, and is not organic.

Ultra-Processing Assessment

NOVA Score:4 / 4

Ultra-Processed

Why this score?

This jarred spice paste is an ultra-processed product due to added modified food starch, whey protein concentrate, color additives and other processed ingredients formulated to create a ready-to-use, long-shelf-life sauce. It combines whole spices and dairy with industrial additives and stabilizers typical of NOVA 4 foods.

Daily Ritual

Can you Spot Ultraprocessed Foods? Play our Supermarket Game

Take a virtual shopping trip to learn more about what's on grocery store shelves.

Shopping in the supermarket oil aisle

Others also viewed

Common Questions about Patak's Masala Tikka Spicy Paste

Well, 'healthy' can mean different things to different people! In moderation, the Tikka Spicy Paste can add a flavorful kick to your meals without piling on the calories — just 45 per serving. But if you're looking for something ultra-clean or raw, it might not fit the bill because it does contain some processed ingredients and added sugars.

Perfect For

meal-prep-sunday
game-day-prep
weekend-brunch

Vibe:

convenientadventurousindulgent
$NaN
per package