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Meat, South and Southeast Asian

Babi kecap with rice

Babi kecap is an Indonesian dish of pork braised in sweet soy sauce, kecap manis, with garlic and ginger. For 4 people, it takes 1 hour 15 minutes to cook, rated easy, at €2.70 per person. The key is timing, kecap manis goes in near the end of cooking so the sauce thickens without burning.

A simple Indonesian dish, babi kecap, pork braised in sweet soy sauce with garlic and ginger, served with rice.

Babi kecap with rice
Total time
1 h 15
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.70
Calories per person
570 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Babi kecap is pork that simmers slowly until tender, coated in a glossy dark sauce that's sweet and savory at once, scented with garlic and ginger. Kecap manis, that thick sweet soy sauce, gives the dish its whole character, a deep color and a flavor that clings slightly to your lips. White rice soaks up the sauce and balances the richness.

It's the kind of dish to make on a calm weekend, when you have a bit of time to let it simmer without rushing. Kids generally love this sweet savory combination, especially served with fresh cucumber that cuts through the richness of the sauce. This babi kecap was built for a simple family dinner, with no hard to find ingredients.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Pork shoulder or butt 800 g

Pantry

  • Kecap manis 6 tbsp
  • Jasmine riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Soy sauceoften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Neutral oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Garlic 5 cloves
  • Fresh ginger 30 g
  • Shallots 3
  • Scallions 3
  • Cucumber 1

Allergens Soy, Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Cut the pork into three centimeter cubes and brown them in hot oil. 8 min

    Pat the meat dry before searing it, it will color better.

  2. Add chopped shallots, garlic and ginger, let them cook for a few minutes. 4 min

    Watch the garlic doesn't burn, pull the pan off the heat for a minute if it colors too fast.

  3. Pour in water to cover, add the soy sauce and pepper, and let it simmer covered. 35 min

    The liquid should just barely simmer, so the meat stays tender.

  4. Add the kecap manis and let it reduce uncovered until the sauce turns syrupy. 20 min

    Stir often toward the end of the reduction, that's when it tends to stick.

  5. Cook the rice, then serve the pork coated in sauce with scallions and cucumber. 12 min

    Fresh crunchy cucumber contrasts nicely with the sweet, deep sauce.

Our tips to get it right

  • Cut the pork into pieces roughly the same size so they all cook at the same rate.
  • Taste the sauce before adding the kecap manis, some brands are saltier than others, adjust the amount accordingly.
  • If the sauce reduces too fast and starts sticking before the meat is tender, lower the heat and add a splash of water.

The variations

  • Swap the pork for chicken pieces, the braising time will then be shorter, around twenty minutes.
  • For a vegetarian version, use firm tofu browned in a pan and tempeh, cutting down the time simmering in the sauce.
  • For kids in a hurry to eat, serve the sauce less reduced and more liquid, it will be milder and less sticky.

What to serve it with

  • Fresh sliced cucumber
  • Steamed jasmine rice
  • Hot green tea

Storage

Babi kecap keeps two to three days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes well, without the rice, for up to two months. Reheat gently in a saucepan, adding a splash of water to loosen the sauce.

Questions about this dish

Can you replace kecap manis with regular soy sauce and sugar?

Yes, mix soy sauce with a bit of brown sugar or cassonade to mimic kecap manis. The flavor will be slightly less deep but the syrupy texture stays close.

Can babi kecap be made ahead of time?

Yes, it's actually recommended, the sauce improves after resting overnight in the fridge. Reheat gently the next day, adding a splash of water if needed.

What cut of pork works if I don't have shoulder cut?

Pork butt works just as well, it stays tender after braising. Avoid very lean cuts, which tend to dry out.

Why add the kecap manis only near the end of cooking?

Kecap manis contains sugar that burns easily with long cooking. Adding it in the second half lets the sauce reduce and turn syrupy without sticking or turning bitter.

How long does it take to make a babi kecap, Indonesian braised pork in sweet soy sauce, with white rice?

Count 1 h 15 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a babi kecap, Indonesian braised pork in sweet soy sauce, with white rice?

About 570 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a babi kecap, Indonesian braised pork in sweet soy sauce, with white rice cost?

About €2.70 per serving, or €10.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains soy, gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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