Wash the outside and inside of the lotus root. Since its a vegetable thats grown in the mud/dirt, I recommend to cut the lotus root in half and run some water inside. It also helps to use a chopstick to clean the dirt in the grooves of the lotus root.
After cleaning, peel the skin of the lotus root and cut off the ends.
Slice the lotus roots thinly and place the slices in a bowl of water. Soak for 5 minutes to get rid of excess starch. Pour out the water.
In a pot, add 3-4 cups of water and boil. Once the water is boiling, add lotus roots and cook for 3 minutes. Strain the lotus roots after cooking.
In a pan, heat 2 tbs oil until you see smoke. Once the oil is hot & smoking, turn the heat OFF. Immediately add the minced garlic, red chili flakes, ginger, salt, and sugar. Mix continuously and cook for 1 minute. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
In a large bowl, mix lotus roots with the cooked spicy sauce. Add soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame seeds, sliced green onion, and cilantro. Gently mix so the lotus roots don't break off. You can marinate the lotus roots for 30 minutes in the sauce or serve immediately.