When I first discovered a few recipes with tapioca pearls some time ago, I knew that I really want to try it. But somehow it turned out to be rather difficult – almost impossible – to buy tapioca in stores here in Austria.

Well, some time went by and I stopped thinking of my cooking plans with tapioca pearls. But last week, when I was shopping, I found a new health food store – and now guess, what was standing (and waiting for me!) on the shelf between lots of different flour types and nut varieties? A bag of tapioca, finally!

So here it is:  a creamy and smooth pudding combined with the slightly sweet-sour taste of raspberries on top. Because of its soft taste the tapioca pudding offers can be combined with huge variety of other flavors: melted chocolate mixed in and cocoa powder sprinkled on top, small pieces of tropical mango and sweet pineapple mixed with a splash of fresh lime juice  or just a spoon full of your favourite jam. Now it is up to you to let your creativity run free!

In a medium saucepan combine the milk, tapioca, the 115g sugar and the cut vanilla bean. Cook the mixture over medium heat until the pearls become translucent, about 20-30 minutes. Remove from the heat. Fill the pudding in 4 glasses and let cool to room temperature.

Combine the 2 tbsp. sugar and the raspberries in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat, mash the raspberries gently with a fork, until you get a compote with no large raspberries.

Add the raspberries on top of the pudding, cover with clear film and put into the freezer for at least 2 hours.
Right before serving, sprinkle some ground pistachios on top.