Tapioca pudding

SERVES 6 PREPARATION: 10 MIN SOAKING: 30 MIN COOKING: 15 MIN

80ml (¹⁄₃c) small pearl tapioca 750ml (3c) milk, divided 1 cinnamon stick

1 star anise pinch of salt

80ml (¹⁄₃c) castor sugar

2 egg yolks, lightly beaten

5ml (1t) vanilla essence

1 Put the tapioca and 180ml of the milk in a saucepan and let soak for 30 minutes. Add the cinnamon stick and star anise.

2 Add the remaining milk, the salt, castor sugar and lightly beaten egg yolks and stir continuously over medium heat until the mixture is about to boil.

3 Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. Stir the mixture often until the tapioca swells.

4 Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla essence and allow to cool before serving.

This pudding is ready when the tapioca pearls are translucent and slightly chewy.