First clean the sardine well cutting its head and tail. Remove the scales. Pull out the thread and a sac like stuff from inside using your fingures. Rinse well in water. Wash it nicely using salt 2 - 3 times.

After cleaning the fish make 3-4 slits on both side of the fish. Then marinate it using chilly powder, pepper powder and salt. coat the fish properly on each side.

Keep the fish marinated for 1-2 hours. Then put some oil in a pan, to shallow fry the fish. When the oil is hot, add few springs of curry leaves on it. Then put the fish above this curry leaves and cook. Flip the fish pieces carefully after 6-8 minutes until it is cooked properly on both sides.