7 Best Kecap Manis Substitutes (+ Easy Homemade Recipe)

Looking for an alternative to sweet soy sauce, also known as kecap manis? You’re in the right place! Below you’ll find my favorite simple kecap manis substitutes, plus an easy homemade version you can whip up in 10 minutes with just 2 ingredients from your pantry.

What is Kecap Manis?

Kecap manis (also spelled ketjap manis) is Indonesian sweet soy sauce. It’s a thick, syrupy condiment that’s a staple of Indonesian cuisine. ‘Kecap’ means sauce and ‘manis’ means sweet, so the name translates simply as ‘sweet sauce’. It’s pronounced roughly ‘KEH-chup MAH-nees’.

It’s made by fermenting soy beans and grains, then simmering the fermented soy sauce with lots of palm sugar until it becomes a dark, glossy syrup. Some brands also add aromatics like star anise, garlic or galangal.

A typical ingredient list looks like this: palm sugar, sugar, soy extract (water, salt, soybean, wheat), salt and caramel color. Most brands also include preservatives, acidity regulators and stabilizers.

What Does Kecap Manis Taste Like?

Think of it as a cross between soy sauce and molasses. The sweetness comes first, with deep caramel flavors, then a gentle savory saltiness. It’s much sweeter and less salty than regular soy sauce, and it has a lovely thick, syrupy consistency that clings to whatever you’re cooking.

The Best Kecap Manis Substitutes

The key to any good substitute is combining something salty and savory (like soy sauce) with something sweet and caramelly (like honey or brown sugar).

1. Honey + Soy Sauce

This is my go-to. Mix 3 parts honey (or maple syrup) with 1 part soy sauce. It’s quick, it’s easy and you probably have both in your pantry already.

2. Brown Sugar, Palm Sugar or Molasses + Soy Sauce

Use brown sugar or palm sugar in the same way as the honey above. Palm sugar is what’s used in the real thing, so it gives the most authentic flavor. A splash of molasses will add extra caramel depth and darkness. White sugar will work too, it will just lack the caramel flavors.

3. Honey + Fish Sauce

If you want a soy-free alternative, fish sauce has a lot of the salty, complex flavors of soy sauce. Mixed with honey (or brown sugar) it makes an excellent substitute, especially in savory dishes like stir-fries.

4. Coconut Aminos

If you’re avoiding soy for health reasons, coconut aminos are another soy-free option. The flavor is much sweeter and significantly less salty than soy sauce. To substitute for kecap manis, I’d use 1 part coconut aminos and 1 part honey or sugar.

5. Oyster Sauce

Like coconut aminos, oyster sauce has more inherent sweetness than regular soy sauce, but not as much as kecap manis. So I’d use 2 parts honey or brown sugar and 1 part oyster sauce.

6. Hoisin Sauce

Hoisin is thick and sweet like kecap manis, so it works well in marinades and glazes. It has a stronger spiced flavor (think five spice and garlic), so I’d thin it with a little soy sauce and water. It’s not a perfect match, but it’s a handy option if it’s what you’ve got.

7. Teriyaki Sauce

Teriyaki is thinner and less sweet than kecap manis, but it’s a decent stand-in at a pinch. Add a spoonful of honey or brown sugar to bump up the sweetness and simmer for a minute or two to thicken it.

How to Make Your Own Kecap Manis

Making your own sweet soy sauce at home is super easy. Here’s how I do it:

Ingredients: ½ cup brown sugar or palm sugar, ½ cup soy sauce (or dark soy sauce for a richer color). Optional: 1 star anise and 1 crushed garlic clove.
Method: Place everything in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then simmer gently for 5 minutes until slightly syrupy. It will thicken more as it cools. Remove the star anise and garlic, then pour into a clean jar.

Store your homemade kecap manis in the fridge and use it within a few weeks.

Can I Use Soy Sauce Instead of Kecap Manis?

Absolutely you can. On its own, soy sauce will make your dish much saltier and less sweet, so you’ll need to add some sweetness. Try honey, maple syrup or sugar in the ratios mentioned above. Going the other way, you can’t really substitute kecap manis for regular soy sauce, as the sweetness will take over.

Is Kecap Manis the Same as Hoisin Sauce?

No. They’re both thick, sweet, dark sauces, but hoisin is Chinese and is made with fermented soybean paste plus spices like five spice and garlic. Kecap manis is Indonesian and is simpler, mainly soy sauce and palm sugar. Hoisin is more spiced and tangy, while kecap manis is all about the caramel sweetness.

How to Use Kecap Manis

Kecap manis is incredibly versatile. Here are some of my favorite ways to use it:

Nasi goreng, Indonesian fried rice, where it gives the rice its signature dark color and sweetness. Or try a splash in my 5-Ingredient Tuna Fried Rice.
Satay marinades and peanut sauces
Drizzled over gado-gado, the Indonesian salad of vegetables, eggs and peanut sauce
Babi kecap, Indonesian pork belly braised in sweet soy
As a marinade or glaze for chicken, fish or pork
In stir-fries and noodle dishes such as mie goreng
As a dipping sauce mixed with fresh chili

Delicious Kecap Manis Flavor Pairings

Chicken & Kecap Manis
Pork & Kecap Manis
Fish & Kecap Manis
Chili & Kecap Manis
Ginger & Kecap Manis
Garlic & Kecap Manis
Rice & Noodles & Kecap Manis
Green Onions (Scallions) & Kecap Manis
Long Beans & Kecap Manis

Where to Buy Kecap Manis

In Australia you’ll find kecap manis in the Asian section of most supermarkets, including Coles and Woolworths. ABC is the most popular brand, and Bango is another good one to look out for. Asian grocers will have more choice, and it’s also easy to buy online.

How Long Does Kecap Manis Last?

An unopened bottle will keep in the pantry for a long time, so check the best-before date. Once opened, store it in the fridge, where it will keep for months thanks to all that salt and sugar. Homemade kecap manis is best used within a few weeks.

More Ingredient Substitutes

Also see the Simple Ingredient Substitutes Index.

In your corner,

Jules from Stonesoup xx
(Your favourite Australian Food Scientist)
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