Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring continuously until the sugar and jam are fully dissolved.
Look for big bubbles starting to rise and the sauce turning glossy, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Pass the sauce through a fine mesh strainer to remove the pineapple jam bits.
The sauce consistency will be on the thinner side. It will thicken further and turn glossy as it cools.
Notes
About the sweet and sour dipping sauce: I use pineapple mango jam, but pineapple jam also works well. If needed, apricot jam is a great substitute—use a 1:1 ratio.
Dipping sauce consistency: You don’t want the sauce to be too thick or gloopy—it should have a nice shine and light viscosity so it coats the fried food well.
Storage: Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days. When ready to use, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to take the chill off—it’ll regain its optimal shine and pourable consistency. No reheating necessary.
Scale up the quantity: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled—just use a larger saucepan and increase the cook time slightly.