No Fluff Tapioca Pudding

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 35 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 3
• 3 cups milk, -divided (i used half ff milk and half ff half and half)
• 1/3 cup small pearl tapioca (not instant)
• 1 egg (lightly beaten)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup sugar (its plenty sweet, could use less)
• 1 vanilla beans, split or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 dash nutmeg (optional)
• 1 dash cinnamon (optional)

Recipe

• 1 in a heavy bottomed sauce pan combine 1 cup milk with tapioca pearls; let soak for at least 30 minutes.
• 2 after soaking is done, whisk in egg, salt, sugar and remaining milk and vanilla bean (if using) scraping the paste with a knife and throw in the pod (if using vanilla extract add at the very end after pudding is complete).
• 3 over medium heat bring mixture barely to a boil (about 15 minutes) stirring constantly. be very careful to keep stirring so not to scorch it. if it scorches it's no good, throw out and start over.
• 4 when boiling reduce heat and let mixture fall to a simmer. continue stirring until the tapioca is fully cooked and the pudding is thickened. this could take 20 to 45 minutes--watch your tapioca it will tell you when it is done. it will swell up and become almost entirely translucent. taste often for doneness. i like my tapioca a little chewy.
• 5 when finished remove from heat and add vanilla extract if using. also if using the cinnamon/nutmeg add now, let cool a bit and enjoy.
• 6 this is best served warm, but good cold too.