Apple Tapioca
Small pearl tapioca and tart apples come together in this vegetarian — 60 minutes, 7 steps, and the kind of result worth repeating. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 7 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for oven and saucepan. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (2)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Place the pearl tapioca in a bowl, cover with cool water, and soak for about 1 hour, then drain well so the pearls soften and cook evenly.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (175 C) and lightly butter a 2-quart baking dish.
- In a saucepan, combine the drained tapioca, boiling water, and salt, then simmer gently over low heat for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring often, until the pearls turn mostly clear and the mixture thickens.
- Peel, core, and slice the apples, toss them with the lemon juice to prevent browning, then arrange them in the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon evenly over the apples, dot with the butter, then pour the hot tapioca mixture over the top, gently spreading it to cover the fruit.
- Bake uncovered for 40 to 50 minutes, until the apples are tender when pierced and the tapioca is bubbling and set.
- Let the pudding rest for at least 15 minutes so it firms up slightly, then serve warm on its own or with a spoonful of cream.
You'll use: Oven · Saucepan · Pan · Baking dish
Ingredient substitutions
- Brown Sugar
- white sugar + 1 tbsp molasses per cup
- Butter
- olive oil (¾ the amount) · coconut oil · margarine
- Lemon
- lime · 1 tbsp white wine vinegar per lemon
Tips & common questions
How long does Apple Tapioca take to make?
About 60 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 8 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of brown sugar?
Try white sugar + 1 tbsp molasses per cup. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Apple Tapioca vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Apple Tapioca is an original recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Goat Cheese, Tapioca, Green Apple, Lemongrass (Société) (28344981878).jpg by Asok5 from Budapest, Hungary, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.