Boatman's fish curry

Before the bridges and roads and ferries, there used to be boat traders plying the back waters of Kerala.. My grandma used to say they carried everything from make up to medicine in their boat. These traders used to live in their boat. They adapted their cooking to their lifestyle..
There are no more boatman traders, but the boats.. they are commercialized.. now they are called house boats.. you can rent them,,, If you ever go to Kumarakom, rent the house boat for 2 days and enjoy the peace and the serenity of the back waters in Kerala.. but hurry, before the Malayalee destroy the last piece of god's beautiful handiwork. http://www.kumarakom.com/

This recipe came from the boatman.. and no oil is used. It is really important that you use fresh coconut..(the oil comes from the fresh coconut!!)

1kg Fish..

grind
1 cup fresh coconut
1 tbl spn chilli powder
3 t spn coriander powder
1 t spn turmeric
1/2 cup water

pound lightly the following
6 green chillies
1 inch ginger
4 shallots

also need
a small marble size tamarind soaked in 1/4 cup water

heat chatti, add the spice paste and heat over medium heat for abt 5 mints, now add the pounded ingredients and tamarind pulp and cup of water. when it starts to boil, reduce heat, add the fish and salt.. cook till the fish is done9abt 10 mints)
note: the boat man would grind the coconut on his grinding stone.. so the texture of the ground spice is not too fine.