My father doesn’t like to eat like he used to these days. However he does enjoy pudding and will stubbornly buy the store-bought mixes over eating say, steak or chili or heartier fare my mother attempts to interest him in. This recipe is from Bob’s Red Mill.
2/3 cup tapioca (Small Pearl Old Fashioned)
1 1/2 cup water
4 1/2 cups milk (I use whole milk)
1/2 tsp sea salt
4 eggs, separated
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Soak tapioca in water for 30 minutes in a saucepan. Add milk, salt and lightly beaten egg yolks to tapioca and stir over medium heat until boiling. Simmer uncovered over very low heat for 10-15 minutes. Stir often. Beat egg whites with sugar until soft peaks form. Fold about 3 /4 cup of hot tapioca into the egg whites, then gently fold mixture back into saucepan. Stir over low heat for about 3 minutes. Cool 15 minutes then add vanilla (I always forget the vanilla!). Serve warm or chilled, plain or with fruits, nutmeg or coconut mixed in. Makes 6-1/2 cups.