Babi kecap facts for kids
Babi kecap, Chinese Indonesian pork braised in sweet soy sauce
|
|
| Alternative names | Babi ketjap (Dutch dialect) |
|---|---|
| Course | Main course |
| Place of origin | Indonesia |
| Region or state | Southeast Asia |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Pork and vegetables simmered in kecap manis (sweet soy sauce) spiced with garlic and shallot |
| Variations | Semur |
Babi kecap is a super tasty Indonesian dish. It's made by slowly cooking pork in a special sweet soy sauce. This sauce is called kecap manis. It's a classic meal often found in Chinese Indonesian homes. It's simple to make and very popular!
Many people in Indonesia who are not Muslim also love babi kecap. This includes people from Bali, Ambon, Bataks, Minahasa, and Dayaks. It's even popular in the Netherlands. There, it's known as babi ketjap. This is because Indonesia used to be a Dutch colony. In the Netherlands, you might find it as part of a big meal called rijsttafel.
People think this dish came from an old Chinese braised pork recipe. But babi kecap has its own special Indonesian touch. The Indonesian kecap manis makes it a bit sweet. Sometimes, it's even made with a sweet chili sauce for extra flavor.
In Bali, babi kecap is a special food. People often eat it during important festivals. These include Galungan and Nyepi.
Contents
What is Babi Kecap Made Of?
The main ingredients for babi kecap are quite simple. Chinese Indonesian families often use pork belly. This meat is cooked slowly with sweet soy sauce. They add garlic, shallots (which are like small onions), and a little salt. These ingredients give it a great taste.
Adding More Flavors
Restaurants and other places might add more ingredients. These can include lemongrass, ginger, and tomatoes. Some recipes even use shrimp paste or salam leaf. Salam leaf is like an Indonesian bay leaf. White pepper and red chilies can also be added. These give the dish a bit of spice.
If you don't have sweet soy sauce, you can make your own. Just mix regular soy sauce with palm sugar or brown sugar. If you don't like spicy food, you can use sweet peppers instead of red chilies.
Different Kinds of Babi Kecap
Most people prefer to use Pork belly for babi kecap. But you can use other parts of the pork too. There are similar recipes that use different cuts of pork.
For example, sengkel babi kecap uses pig trotters (pork feet). Another dish is sekba. This is a Chinese Indonesian pork stew. It can include pork liver, nose, tongue, ears, and other parts.
Dishes Similar to Babi Kecap
Babi kecap is very similar to another Indonesian favorite. It's called semur daging. However, semur is usually made with beef and potatoes. It also uses slightly different spices. If you want a chicken version, it's called ayam kecap.
