In its pearl form, tapioca is made into larger granules, but all types of tapioca come from the root of the cassava plant. Food from this plant is a staple in the diet of approximately 500 million people around the world, according to the University of Illinois. The style of tapioca you buy should be based on how you intend to use it. Tapioca pearls work well to create both puddings and dough for dumplings and are the key ingredient in bubble, or boba, tea.
Boba Tea
Step 1
Fill a large pot with water. Use 7 cups water for every 1 cup tapioca pearls. Place the pot on the stove top and bring the water to a boil.
Step 2
Stir the tapioca pearls into the boiling water. Once the pearls float, reduce the heat to medium and cover the pot. Cook the pearls for 15 minutes.
Step 3
Scoop the pearls out of the water and place them into a colander. Rinse the tapioca under cold water and let the pearls set until they cool, then transfer them to a storage bowl and refrigerate.
Step 4
Add 1/2 cup tapioca pearls to a glass.
Step 5
Prepare the black tea in a separate container.
Step 6
Add 1 cup crushed ice, milk and sugar to taste and mix the ingredients by shaking or stirring.
Step 7
Pour the cold tea over the tapioca pearls and serve.
Pudding
Step 1
Soak the tapioca pearls overnight in water.
Step 2
Pour the pearls into a slow cooker and add 4 cups milk and a pinch of salt.
Step 3
Set the cooker to "High" and allow the pearls to cook for two hours.
Step 4
Combine one egg yolk and 1 cup sugar in a mixing bowl, then whisk until frothy. Slowly stir 2/3 cup of the cooked tapioca into the mixture.
Step 5
Pour the contents of the bowl into the slow cooker and stir. Also add any additional seasonings you want for your pudding to the slow cooker. For example, you might add 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon and 1/4 tsp. nutmeg to enhance the flavor of the pudding.
Step 6
Cook the pudding an additional 15 minutes in the slow cooker.
Step 7
Transfer the tapioca to a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Let the pudding sit for one hour and then refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
Dough
Step 1
Add the tapioca pearls to a mixing bowl and soak them in 1 1/2 cups boiling water. Stir the pearls as they soak until they break up to form a paste. Not all of the pearls will break apart; the whole pearls should become translucent.
Step 2
Place a bowl of water next to your working space. Once the paste cools enough so you can handle it comfortably, wet your hands. Continue to wet your hands with the water as you make the dough.
Step 3
Spoon out 1 1/2 tsp. tapioca paste into the palm of your hand and roll it to create a ball.
Step 4
Press down on the ball with your fingers until it flattens out into a circle. The circle should be approximately 2 inches wide.
Step 5
Fill the dough circles with your favorite dumpling mix and fold them over. Press the edges of the dough together with your fingers to seal the dumpling.
Step 6
Steam the dumplings following the instructions on the recipe. The exact method will depend on the type of filling used. For instance, if you are using a pork filling, add the dumplings to a steamer and cook them for 10 minutes before frying them in oil.
Tips and Warnings
- For a richer, thicker pudding, use 2 1/2 cups milk and 1/2 cup heavy cream in place of the milk in the recipe.
- Tapioca pearls come in both large and small granules. Check your recipe to ensure that you are using the right size of pearl.
Things You'll Need
- Large pot with lid
- Water
- Tapioca pearls
- Spoon
- Colander
- Storage bowl
- Black tea
- 1 cup crushed ice
- Milk
- Sugar
- Slow cooker
- Salt
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
- Plastic wrap
- Dumpling filling
- Steamer
- Vegetable oil
- Skillet
References
- What's Cooking America: Bubble Tea - How To Make Bubble Tea - What is Bubble Tea?
- University of Illinois Extension; What Exactly is Tapioca? Where Does it Come From?; Robin Bagwell; January 27, 2011
- FoodNetwork.com; Tapioca Pudding; Alton Brown; 2004
- University of Wisconsin Green Bay: Thai Tapioca Pearl Dumplings (Saku Sai)
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