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.
Where can I buy your products?
Our products are currently available for purchase online through our dedicated SHOP and through selected stockists. Visit the STOCKIST page on our website to find out more.
Are your Masalas cooked?
Our masalas are uncooked — not what you typically find on a shop shelf. The ingredients are carefully blended and transformed into lusciously rich, thick, aromatic pastes, left uncooked for you to finish in your own kitchen.
Where do you get your ingredients from?
We pride ourselves on working with a select number of trusted suppliers, prioritising local sourcing wherever possible to ensure a consistently high standard of quality.
Can I freeze your products?
Regrettably, our products are not suitable for freezing.
Can I cook your products in the microwave?
Our products are not suitable for microwave use. However, post-cooking, you can transfer your finished meal into a microwave-safe bowl for reheating if necessary.
Where are the cooking instructions of your masala pastes and spice blends?
Cooking your dishes using our products is straightforward, with comprehensive and clear instructions provided on each jar. Instructions can also be found on the product page of the website.
What should I mix your products with?
Our masalas and spice blends present remarkable versatility, complementing a variety of ingredients such as chicken, lamb, beef, seafood, vegetables, paneer, or even boiled eggs.
How many people do your products serve?
A single masala jar, when prepared according to the instructions on the packaging, serves 4-5 people. Our Signature Spice and Pakora Masala can be utilised to cook more than one meal. The Pulao Rice blend serves 4-5, just like your favourite curry masala.
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 specific ingredients that may not align with your dietary preferences.
Do your products contain allergens?
For allergens, see ingredients in bold.
If you have a food allergy or you are sensitive to an ingredient, please don’t hesitate to write us an email to ensure we get your order just right!
What is the shelf life of your products?
Every jar of product produced in Monalisa's Kitchen is meticulously handmade without the use of any preservatives, which contributes to it's shorter shelf life when compared to supermarket/mass produced products. This process ensures a healthier and fresher product, aligning with our commitment to maintaining product integrity and quality.
Once shipped, the masala's maintain a remaining shelf life of at least 3 months and the powdered spices have a shelf life of at least 5 months. Specific Use By/Best Before dates are clearly indicated on all labels.
Is your packaging environmentally friendly?
We take pride in our packaging, utilising glass jars with twist cap lids to ensure product protection and freshness. Our commitment to using the finest ingredients and optimal production methods, rather than additives, not only guarantees freshness and shelf life but also contributes to reducing food waste. In addition to conveying essential product information, our labels feature clear, step-by-step instructions, recently commended by a customer as 'foolproof.'
Do your Gift Cards expire?
Gift Cards are automatically deactivated after 24 consecutive months of non-use. To reactivate your Gift Card please contact info@monalisaskitchen.com
Can my order be delivered to multiple recipients?
Unfortunately, orders cannot be split for delivery to multiple addresses; each order may only have one designated delivery address.
Can I change/cancel my order after it has been confirmed?
Referring to our Terms & Conditions, once an order is placed and payment is made, changes cannot be made. For further inquiries, please contact info@monalisaskitchen.com.
I’ve received a damaged/defective product. What can I do?
In the unfortunate event of products being damaged during shipping, please email info@monalisaskitchen.com. Provide a brief description of the damage, including the batch number (usually located on the package's bottom) and your order number. Don't forget to include photos of both the damaged product and packaging, as these will be required for further assistance.
I've received an incorrect product or a product is missing. What can I do?
If you have received an order with incorrect products or items missing, please email info@monalisaskitchen.com. Provide a brief description of the issue, including batch numbers and your order number. For incorrect products, kindly include photographs for our reference.
I would like to stay up to date about your promotions. How can I do this?
To stay informed about our latest promotions, we recommend you Sign Up for our Newsletter.
How can I unsubscribe from your newsletter?
To unsubscribe from our newsletter, kindly forward your request to info@monalisaskitchen.com, ensuring to specify the email address used for newsletter sign-up.
Let customers speak for us
Easy to cook and far superior to any shop bought rice. Will definitely be ordering again!
Best ever but the delivery cost costs more than the curry!
Great packaging and amazing flavours. Simple recipes to follow with fantastic results
Such an easy way to cook a brilliant rice dish !!
The hard work is done and the results are amazing! Popped in the slow cooker with chicken and cashew butter, 2 hrs later a gorgeous curry with a wonderful depth of flavour, we are addicted!
Easy to make perfect very tasty rice, we divided mix in half as portion for 2 required.
The most delicious curry I have ever tasted AND, apart from the main part - the paste - I cooked it myself! I am not a great cook, but even I can't ruin this. I absolutely recommend Makhani Masala. I add lots of onions, mushrooms, peppers, carrots, etc., as well as chicken, and it is delicious.
I have just bought the rice, because I want to know if it actually is going to be the best rice I have ever had. I'll let you know when I leave my next review.
Very good curry paste, totally different than the shop bought ones
I’ve been meaning to try these products for a while. So far just I’ve tried the Chicken Tikka Masala and was not disappointed. Lovely meal packed with flavour. Looking forward to trying the Korma this weekend!
It sums itself up on it’s own label -
THE PERFECT PULAO RICE BLEND!
Monalisa’s kitchen has saved my reputation for the second time!
Almost a couple of decades ago, I was beyond hitty-missy, when it came to cooking even boiled rice. This was especially true when I made it for my three children, aged 2, 4 and 7 years old.
Kids can be the cruelest of judges!
With slightly different variations of instructions, on different rice packets, I was achieving different variations of glutenous, stodginess. As a parent, with shared care, my kids weren’t particularly impressed! “Mam’s is better!” They’d always say, and, inwardly, I cringed!
Their judgmentalism stung, and it was becoming quite personal!
I could knock out a pretty decent spaghetti bolognaise and, by cooking far more than we could possibly eat, with the addition of cumin, kidney beans, a touch of chilli, and a chunk of quality dark chocolate, I could re-evolve my sauce into a passable chilli, that my youngest child also enjoyed.
Rice, however, remained my culinary nemesis!
Passing a couple of kettle-fulls of boiling water though my gelatinous lump improved it slightly, but I wasn’t winning any awards. This recovery technique did work for my sticky spaghetti, but claiming this was sticky rice, couldn’t fool a two year old. Soaking and stirring the rice until the water stopped turning grey, in a huge pan, did help a bit, but it was time consuming, and the results didn’t match the effort.
By lockdown, I had discovered Monalisa’s Saffron Tree, and suddenly my children were delighted. Older now, and with developing tastes, suddenly dad made a pakora starter, a sublime and stunningly authentic curry, with an amazingly aromatic rice that they couldn’t believe. I even had gorgeous nan breads, on the side, to soak up any remnants of sauce!
Ner, ner, nuh, ner, ner!
Suddenly dad, not only made the best rice, he could also turn out a restaurant-quality meal. I knew their mam was quietly incensed, because she actually commented, magnanimously when we weren’t really speaking much. Result!!!
I used instagram for our band. Si King was our drummer, and Dave Myers, a dear friend, was a loyal fan. When lockdown destroyed the band, I had no need for instagram anymore, but I stayed on it, exclusively for Saffron Tree.
I was devastated, when I tried to put in my Christmas order and realised that I couldn’t. Saffron Tree, my saviour had disappeared, so something terrible must have happened.
I was no longer capable of presenting authentic Indian meals worthy of Kingy, who’d cooked me some corkers.
Gutted, I binned Instagram, and stayed off for years!
Only a few months ago, I rejoined Instagram, after getting hacked on Facebook and deleting my account. I was both surprised and delighted to discover Monalisa’s Kitchen, and Once Upon My Pan, with proper products and glorious recipe suggestions, for the food enthusiast, I’d always been.
Now my pulao rice is perfect again and the quality of my cuisine is exactly as I had remembered it. Unlike during lockdown, I can now share my amazing results with my family and friends.
Thank you so much Monalisa. You’re a star and, once again, so am I! 😁🙏😍
My stardom, however, is vicarious, and on the back of your culinary genius but, right now, I’ll take what I can get.
You’re inspiring me to get more experimental, and creative!
Once upon a time, Monalisa, in my kitchen, far, far, away, I was reborn again, thanks to you! 🙏x
Previously ordered the full selection of pastes and having tried so, so many from many on-line sites - these are by far the best & tastiest I have found! All the family really enjoyed them, quick easy and guaranteed quality - so, 2nd order has arrived and no doubt more to come.
Easy to make and delicious 😋 great instructions, very clear with very little addition needed. Would definitely recommend 👏👏
This rice lives up to it's name Perfect Pulao Rice Blend. We were keen to try this rice as previously we've had little success with rice. The instructions are straightforward and it was very easy to cook. The result was fantastic. The rice had a lovely flavour, and importantly, the rice looked so good, with fluffy separated grains. A big success!
Have bought and cooked nearly the whole range of the Masala Sauces. They are all delicious, my wife and kids enjoy the flavours, particularly the Mekhani masala. Everyone says that it is delicious, and I totally agree. Easy to cook as well, just add the cashew butter and chicken and you have a lovely family meal.