Large Pearl Tapioca Pudding (AKa Eyeball Pudding)

My husband and his parents love tapioca. Every time they visit I make a batch. Large pearl tapioca can be hard to find in a grocery store (it's one of those time consuming things to cook) but I find them in Asian grocery stores.

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 3 1⁄2 ounces  large pearl tapioca or 1  cup  large pearl tapioca
• 5  cups milk
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 2  large eggs, separated
• 1  cup granulated sugar
• 1  teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. Bring milk to a boil in a double boiler over simmering water.
2. Add salt and tapioca to milk.
3. Stirring constantly, cook tapioca in double boiler for 1 hour or until tapioca is clear and milk is thickened.
4. Beat egg whites with 1/2 cup sugar until firm peaks, set aside.
5. Beat yolks with remaining 1/2 cup sugar.
6. Temper yolks with some of the hot custard.
7. Stir tempered yolks into hot custard, cook over double boiler an additional 15 minutes.
8. Stir in vanilla.
9. Remove from heat and gently fold in egg whites.
10. Pour tapioca into a serving bowl, cover and chill.