INGREDIENTS
- ½ cup small pearl tapioca
- 4 cups milk, whole or 2%
- ¾ cup white sugar
- 3 eggs
- ¾ cup white sugar, additional
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
PREPARATION
- Rinse tapioca pearls and then pour into a small bowl and cover with water. Let soak 45-60 minutes.
- Add milk and first ¾ cup of sugar to a large saucepan. Bring mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Once small bubbles form, add the tapioca pearls and reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Stir frequently and cook for 15-20 more minutes or until pearls become translucent.
- As pearls cook, beat together the eggs and remaining ¾ cup sugar in a medium size bowl.
- Slowly pour a stream of the hot mixture into the eggs about a ⅓ cup at a time, stirring constantly. Continue until half the hot mixture has been beaten into the eggs.
- Slowly pour the contents of the egg bowl back into the saucepan, continuously stirring.
- Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes or until the pudding starts to thicken (it will continue to thicken as it cools as well).
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Transfer to serving dishes and chill until serving.