Spicy Sardine Fried Bread

Open the canned sardines and drain the liquid. Set the sardines aside.

Peel and thinly slice the red onion.

Thinly slice the chili padi.

Wash the green chilies, then slice them into rings. Remove some of the seeds if desired.

Heat cooking oil in a wok over high heat. Add the sliced chili padi, red onion, and half of the sliced green chilies. Stir-fry until fragrant and the onions are slightly golden.

Add the drained sardines to the wok and mash them thoroughly with a spatula.

Add tomato sauce, white sugar, and light soy sauce to the sardine mixture. Continue to stir-fry over high heat until the mixture is dry and dark in color.

Add the remaining sliced green chilies to the wok and stir-fry briefly for about 5-10 seconds. Turn off the heat and transfer the cooked sardine mixture to a plate.

To prepare the sandwiches, take one slice of white bread. Dip your finger in starch water and apply it around the edges of the bread to help seal it.

Place a generous portion of the cooked sardine mixture onto the bread.

Cover with another slice of white bread and press firmly around the edges to seal the sandwich. Repeat this process for the second sandwich.

Crack and beat one egg in a shallow dish to create an egg wash.

Heat a clean pan with a small amount of cooking oil over medium heat.

Dip each prepared sandwich into the egg wash, ensuring both sides are fully coated.

Place the egg-coated sandwiches into the hot pan and fry until golden brown on both sides, pressing down gently with a spatula if needed to ensure even cooking and sealing.

Remove the fried sandwiches from the pan, slice them diagonally, and serve immediately.