Homemade tapioca pudding

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup small pearl tapioca
• 3 cups whole milk (or a dairy-free alternative)
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Soak the Tapioca:
   Rinse the tapioca pearls under cold water and soak them in 1 cup of water for 30 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat the Milk:
   In a medium saucepan, combine the milk and soaked tapioca. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture begins to simmer.
3. Prepare the Egg Mixture:
   In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and salt. Gradually add a small amount of the hot milk mixture to the eggs to temper them, whisking constantly to prevent curdling.
4. Combine and Cook:
   Slowly pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan with the tapioca and milk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the pudding thickens and the tapioca pearls become translucent (about 10-15 minutes).
5. Add Vanilla:
   Remove the pudding from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
6. Cool and Serve:
   Allow the pudding to cool slightly, then transfer it to serving bowls. Serve warm or chilled, as desired.

Let me know if you’d like any tweaks or additional details! 😊