July 15 marks National Tapioca Pudding Day in the United States. Tapioca pudding is a sweet dessert made from tapioca and milk, cream, or coconut milk.
Tapioca is a type of starch extracted from the root of the cassava plant. Cassava, also known as manioc, is a woody shrub native to Brazil. It is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. Tapioca is a staple food in many parts of South America, Africa, and Asia.
As one of the purest forms of starch, tapioca is often used as a thickener in cooking. It is sold in various forms, such as pearls, flakes, sticks, and coarse flour. Any of these can be used to make tapioca pudding.
If you’ve never tried tapioca pudding before, National Tapioca Pudding Day is the perfect occasion to give it a go. This dessert is simple to prepare and requires no special skills.
Simple Tapioca Pudding Recipe
- In a medium saucepan, combine:
- 3 cups of milk
- 1/2 cup quick-cooking tapioca
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- In a bowl, whisk 2 eggs. Gradually add 1 cup of the hot tapioca mixture to the eggs, whisking until thickened.
- Stir the egg mixture back into the pudding. Bring the pudding to a gentle boil, cooking and stirring until it thickens.
- Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.