 Babi kecap, Chinese Indonesian pork braised in sweet soy sauce | |
| Alternative names | Babi ketjap (Dutch) |
|---|---|
| Course | Main course |
| Place of origin | Indonesia |
| Region or state | Southeast Asia |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Pork and vegetables simmered inkecap manis (sweet soy sauce) spiced withgarlic andshallot |
| Variations | Semur |
Babi kecap is anIndonesianbraised pork with sweet soy sauce (kecap manis).[1][2] It is aChinese Indonesian classic, due to its simplicity and popularity amongChinese Indonesian households. It is also popular among non-Muslim Indonesians, such as theBalinese,Ambonese,Bataks,Minahasans,and Dayaks, and in theNetherlands among theIndo-Dutch, where it is known asbabi ketjap, owing tocolonial ties with Indonesia. In the Netherlands, the dish might also be served within an opulentrijsttafel banquet.[3]
The dish is believed to be based on Southern Chinese braised pork in soy sauce know in Indonesia asbabi taotjo[4] without thetaotjo because of its unavailability in the past. However, it is more Indonesian in nature, because of the mild sweetness introduced by Indonesiankecap manis (sweet soy sauce). It is sometimes prepared with a sweet chili sauce.[5]
InBali,babi kecap is consumed at festivals such asGalungan andNyepi.[6]
The basic recipe, commonly used by Chinese Indonesians in their households, usually requires cuts of pork belly simmered with sweet soy sauce, spiced with garlic, shallot or onion, and a dash of salt. The popular recipes employed elsewhere — from restaurants in Chinatown in Indonesia to Bali and the Netherlands, may include additional ingredients, such aslemongrass,ginger, tomato,shrimp paste,salam leaf (Indonesianbay leaf), white pepper, and redchilies.[6] If sweet soy sauce is not available, it can be substituted with normal soy sauce mixed with groundpalm sugar or brown sugar. The less hot and spicysweet pepper may be used to replace red chilies.
Pork belly is usually the preferred cut of pork meat forbabi kecap. However, other cuts of pork meat or offal may also be used in similar soy sauce-based recipes. Derivatives of this recipe that substitute the use of pork belly includesengkel babi kecap, which usespig trotters, andsekba, which is a Chinese Indonesian porkoffal stew that may also include pork liver, nose, tongue, ear, tripe, and intestines.
It is very similar to another Indonesian favorite calledsemur daging, althoughsemur is usually made of beef and potatoes with slightly different spices. The chicken variant is calledayam kecap ore Kip Smoor in Dutch. The word semur is a corruption of the Dutch word smoor (smoren is to braise in Dutch). Originally Indonesian semur dishes[7] are heated in butter instead of oil hinting at a Dutch origine. Smoor can also be found in former Dutch coloniesSri Lanka andMalacca.
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Media related toBabi kecap at Wikimedia Commons
