Heat oil in a pan & add small onions, ginger, curry leaves & dried red chilli flakes. Fry for 2-3 minutes, till you get the roasted smell. Add coconut & mix well. Just fry it for a minute or two. DO NOT brown it. Remove from fire & let it cool. Add tamarind & salt to this mix. Ground it in the smallest jar of the mixie. Ideally no water should be added, but I end up adding 1/2 - 1 tbsp of water. You can serve it with rice,kanji or idli & dosa.