What is Kecap Manis?
‘Kecap’ translates to “thick sauce” or “soy sauce” while ‘Manis’ translates to “sweet” in the Malay language. Kecap Manis is one of the most popular and widely used sauces in Indonesia, as it is incorporated into hundreds of recipes spanning across the board. Since it originated in Indonesia, it is a highlighted feature in several Indonesian dishes. From soups and sauces to satays and nasi goreng, which is a famous Indonesian fried rice dish, Kecap Manis is a very versatile ingredient that enhances the earthy flavors of Indonesian cuisine. In essence, the syrup is more bittersweet if anything, and also brings out the neutral, umami tones in the food to which it is added. In fact, Kecap Manis is a prime feature of two of the most popular fried rice and fried noodle dishes, nasi goreng (fried rice) and mie goreng (Indonesian fried noodles) respectively. Use it on many dishes, from scrambled eggs to stir fry dishes, as a dipping sauce and so much more.
Is Kecap Manis Gluten Free?
You will find many brands that sell gluten free Kecap Manis, making it a great choice for allergic individuals.
Should Kecap Manis Be Refrigerated?
Many people opt to keep their kecap manis out of the refrigerator due to the high sugar content of the sauce, as sugar is a natural preservative. However, as with many foods, it will last longer and remain fresher for longer when kept in the refrigerator. I prefer to keep mine refrigerated and will bring it to room temperature before using in a recipe or as a dipping sauce. Your best bet would be to head to the aisle of Asian ingredients at your local supermarket or to find and visit an Asian market or specialty store in your area. If you fail to find it there, you can easily find it through online sources as well. Find a website that ships to your country and order away! It is just as delicious as a store bought Kecap Manis, if not more. If you want to copy the primary flavor of this wonderful sauce, you can substitute it with some soy sauce and brown sugar. On the other hand, if you are also looking to attain a similar consistency, then you will need to cook the mixture down to a thicker sauce. On a similar page lies oyster sauce which is the epitome of salty and umami sauce flavors. You can add some sugar and water to dilute the sheer saltiness of the oyster sauce. Some other acceptable substitutes include Shoyu sauce, Tian Mian sauce, and Tamari sauce.
