Black Pepper Tofu

Ingredients

• 2 cups canola oil
• 1 3⁄4 lb. firm tofu, cut into 1″ cubes
• 1⁄2 cup cornstarch
• 11 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 3 tbsp. finely chopped ginger
• 12 small shallots, thinly sliced
• 12 cloves garlic, crushed
• 8 red serrano chiles, stemmed and thinly sliced
• 5 tbsp. coarsely ground black pepper
• 3 tbsp. kecap manis (sweet soy sauce; available at onlinefoodgrocery.com)
• 3 tbsp. light soy sauce
• 4 tsp. dark soy sauce
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 16 small scallions, cut into 1 1/4″ pieces
• Cooked white rice, for serving