Press the tofu for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Once pressed, cut into 1-inch cubes and transfer to a large bowl.
Add the soy sauce, salt, and white pepper, and gently mix. Sprinkle over half of the cornstarch, mix, add the second half, and mix. Set aside.
In a large skillet over medium-low, add the oil. Once heated, add the tofu and fry until golden. Remove tofu from pan and set aside.
To a small bowl, mix together all of the ingredients for the sauce. Set aside.
In the same skillet that you fried the tofu, add in the garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt. Add additional oil as needed. Sauté until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the sauce and bring to a boil.
In a small bowl, mix together the warm water and cornstarch until smooth. Add it to the simmering sauce and whisk through. Allow the sauce to simmer, mixing often, until thick, about 6-8 minutes.
Add in the cooked tofu and sesame oil. Mix until well combined. Season with additional salt as needed.
Serve over rice with green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Enjoy!
main ingredients: type of dish:main cuisine:China Type of meal: dinner