FAQS
We have prepared a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions to provide you with detailed information about our products and services. Should you have any additional queries or wish to share your feedback, please do not hesitate to Contact Us.
The Products
Are your masalas cooked?
Our masalas are uncooked — not what you'd typically find on a shop shelf. The ingredients are blended into rich, thick, aromatic pastes, left uncooked for you to finish in your own kitchen.
Where do you get your ingredients from?
We work with a select number of trusted suppliers, sourcing locally wherever possible to ensure a consistently high standard of quality.
Can I freeze your products?
As the masalas are uncooked, they're not suitable for freezing in their raw form. To avoid waste, we recommend cooking the full curry and freezing half once cooked, or dividing the paste to prepare two separate curries and freezing one of the cooked portions.
Can I cook your products in the microwave?
Our products are not suitable for microwave use. Once cooked, your meal can be transferred to a microwave-safe bowl for reheating if needed.
Where are the cooking instructions?
Cooking instructions are provided clearly on each jar, and can also be found on the product page of the website.
What should I mix your products with?
Our masalas and spice blends are versatile, complementing chicken, lamb, beef, seafood, vegetables, paneer, or even boiled eggs.
How many people do your products serve?
Masala pastes — serves 4–5
Pulao Rice Blend — serves 4–5
Signature Spice & Pakora Masala — can be used across more than one meal
Hyderabadi Biryani Kit — serves 3–4
Are any of your products vegetarian or vegan?
Our products are suitable for both vegetarians and vegans. The cooking instructions allow you the flexibility to omit ingredients that don't align with your dietary preferences.
Do your products contain allergens?
Allergens are shown in bold in the ingredients. If you have a food allergy or are sensitive to an ingredient, please email us to ensure your order is right for you.
What is the shelf life of your products?
Every jar is handmade without preservatives, which gives it a shorter shelf life than supermarket or mass-produced products, but ensures a fresher, higher-quality result. At dispatch, masala pastes have a minimum shelf life of three months; Signature Spice, Pakora, Pulao Rice, Naan Blend, Tandoori Masala and Tadka Dal Blends have a minimum of five months; Hyderabadi Biryani Masala has 3 months. Please refer to the label for exact dates.
Is your packaging environmentally friendly?
We use glass jars with twist-cap lids to protect freshness and quality. Prioritising quality ingredients over additives also helps reduce food waste and food grade Tamper evident tubs with peel back labels that contain the recipe.
Orders & Shipping
How long do your products take to ship?
As all our products are freshly blended, please allow 5–7 working days for your order to be prepared and delivered.
Can my order be delivered to multiple recipients?
Orders cannot be split for delivery to multiple addresses; each order may only have one delivery address.
Can I change or cancel my order after it's confirmed?
Once an order is placed and payment is made, changes cannot be made, in line with our Terms & Conditions. For further queries, please contact info@monalisaskitchen.com.
I've received a damaged or defective product. What can I do?
Please email info@monalisaskitchen.com with a brief description of the damage, the batch number (usually on the base of the jar), your order number, and photos of the damaged product and packaging.
I've received an incorrect product or a product is missing. What can I do?
Please email info@monalisaskitchen.com with a brief description, your order number, and batch number. For incorrect products, please include photographs.
Newsletter & Gift Cards
Do your gift cards expire?
Gift cards deactivate after 12 consecutive months of non-use. To reactivate, please contact info@monalisaskitchen.com.
I'd like to stay up to date on your promotions. How can I do this?
Sign up for our newsletter for free recipes, exclusive offers and kitchen inspiration — plus 15% off your first order with code WELCOME15.
How can I unsubscribe from your newsletter?
Please email info@monalisaskitchen.com, specifying the email address used to sign up.
Let customers speak for us
Haven't used this batch yet but every single purchase that I've previously made has tasted absolutely fantastic.
I'm looking forward to trying the pulao rice blend.
If you like curry then you will love these products.
Lovely curry’s
Love these this is my fourth order. Just wish there was an incentive for regular orders.
Turned out perfect in the biryani and so versatile
Excellent biryani. Very straight forward instructions. Will certainly purchase again. Excellent service
Absolutely delicious and so easy to use..
Easy recipe to follow. Very tasty too.
Excellent. Unfortunately the container had split hence some of the contents were in the box.
Simple to make a truly authentic tasty dish
The jar of signature spice is a wonderful blend that’s every bit as good as the Saffron Tree blend used to be. It’s my go to mix that makes number of delicious curries out of one jar. You can adapt the amount to suit your taste. A five star ⭐️ product
Each jar contains a masala that is so fragrant and easy to use making really authentic curries that are consistently great. Five stars 🌟
The mix is a delightful blend of spices that produces the perfect pulao rice.
The collection is a good buy for the price and you know for certain the flavours and textures will be first class. I haven’t tried each one so far but I do know that. I shall keep returning to buy more of all the items available.
Prepared freshly and always well packaged with a lovely jar that you can use for anything.
Very easy recipes to follow, sauces are tremendous and very good value for money
Easy to follow recipe excellent result.
