A history of flavor: This advertisement for Bango kecap from the 1930s says, “A less tasty meal can be transformed with kecap” and “Contains enough vitamins!” ...

Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325°F. In a food processor, puree the kecap manis, vinegar, sugar, chiles, garlic, shallots, ginger, and salt with 1/2 cup water until smooth.

Where to buy: Kecap manis can be found in Asian and large international supermarkets. If you don’t see a bottle with that name, look for something labeled “sweet soy sauce” or “dark sweet ...