Creamy Tapioca Pudding
In short: Old-fashioned tapioca pudding with soft pearls in sweet vanilla milk, lightened with beaten egg whites. Serve it warm or chilled. It takes about 35 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Resting
- 2 h 30 min
- Total
- 35 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 180 kcal
Tapioca pudding is a comfort dessert of tiny starchy pearls suspended in sweet, creamy milk. The pearls turn translucent and soft as they cook, and folding in whipped egg whites at the end makes the texture lighter than most puddings. It needs patience at the stove but little skill, apart from stirring. Serve warm, or chill it for a thicker set, with fruit or a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Instructions
- Put the tapioca pearls and water in a saucepan and soak for 30 minutes. Do not drain them.
- Add the milk, egg yolks, half of the sugar and the salt to the saucepan and stir well.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 12 to 15 minutes, until the mixture thickens and comes to a gentle boil. Lower the heat and cook for 2 more minutes.
- Take the pudding off the heat. In a clean bowl, beat the egg whites to soft peaks, then add the remaining sugar and beat until glossy.
- Stir the vanilla into the pudding, then fold in the beaten whites gently until just combined.
- Cool for 20 minutes and serve warm, or chill for at least 2 hours and stir before serving.
Tips
- Use small pearl tapioca, not the large pearls used for bubble tea, which need much longer cooking.
- The hot pudding only lightly cooks the egg whites. If you are serving anyone with a weakened immune system, use pasteurized eggs.
Questions and answers
Do I have to soak tapioca pearls?
Soaking for 30 minutes gives a more even texture and shortens the cooking time. If you skip it, cook the pudding about 10 minutes longer.
Why is my tapioca pudding gluey?
It was overcooked or had too many pearls for the amount of milk. Stir in a splash of warm milk to loosen it, and follow the quantities next time.
How long does tapioca pudding keep?
Covered, it keeps for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. It thickens as it cools, so loosen it with milk when serving.
How long does it take to make Creamy Tapioca Pudding?
About 35 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Creamy Tapioca Pudding?
About 180 kcal per serving, with 6 g of protein, 26 g of carbohydrates and 6 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 180 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 26 g |
| Fat | 6 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 18 g |
| Sodium | 170 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
