Black Pepper Tofu

Name: Black Pepper Tofu
Ingredients: 1 3/4 lbs firm tofu; Vegetable oil for frying; Cornstarch to dust the tofu; 11 tbsp butter; 12 small shallots (12 ounces in total), thinly sliced; 8 fresh red chiles (fairly mild ones), thinly sliced; 12 garlic cloves, crushed; 3 tbsp chopped fresh ginger; 3 tbsp sweet soy sauce (kecap manis); 3 tbsp light soy sauce; 4 tsp dark soy sauce; 2 tbsp sugar; 5 tbsp coarsely crushed black peppercorns (use a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder); 16 small and thin green onions, cut into 1 1/4-inch segments