1. Wash and cut each mackerel into 4 pieces.
2. Apply salt, then wash again after 5 minutes.
3. Put the mackerels in a pot along with 3 to 4 cup water, a pinch of salt and one tsp of turmeric powder.
4. Stir fry for 10 minutes. Drain.
5. When the mackerels cool, de-bone and cut into small pieces.
6. Heat up oil and stir-fry garlic, peppercorns, cloves and cinnamon. Drain.
7. Stir-fry coriander seeds and red chillies in the same oil and drain.
8. In the remaining oil stir fry the onions till dark brown.
9. Grind everything the fried ingredients (except the onions) with coconut and tamarind into a fine paste.
10. Mix in the ground masala and water to the browned onions and bring to a boil.
11. Mix in the mackerel pieces and salt and simmer (boil slowly at low temperature) for 2-3 minutes. Serve hot.

Image: Flickr/creativecommons biyu