Creamy Hummus Pasta
This creamy hummus pasta is a quick, comforting dinner with a silky sauce made from hummus, garlic, and lemon. It comes together fast, feels satisfying, and works perfectly for easy weeknights.
Ingredients
- 340 g spaghetti or bucatini 12 ounces
- 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper plus for garnish
- 250 g plain hummus store-bought or homemade 1cup
- 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- Finely grated Parmesan cheese for serving
- Finely chopped fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti or bucatini until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the hot pasta water, then drain.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, season with kosher salt and black pepper, and cook until soft and translucent, about 4–5 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and crushed red pepper and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Lower the heat to very low and stir in the hummus, lemon juice, lemon zest, and about ¾ cup of the reserved hot pasta water. Whisk until smooth and gently warmed; do not let the sauce simmer.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until evenly coated. Loosen the sauce with additional pasta water, adding it 1–2 tablespoons at a time, until glossy and silky.
- Remove from the heat and serve with grated Parmesan cheese, fresh basil, extra crushed red pepper, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, if desired.
Notes
Silky Hummus Sauce: I like adding the hot pasta water gradually while whisking so the sauce turns creamy instead of thick or grainy.
Don’t Rush the Onion: Cooking the onion for the full 4–5 minutes makes it soft and lightly sweet, which balances the lemon and garlic.
Keep the Heat Low: I always lower the heat before adding the hummus; the sauce stays smooth and doesn’t tighten up.
Fix Thick Sauce: If the pasta sits and thickens, a small splash of hot water brings it right back to a creamy texture.
Nutrition
Calories: 532kcal | Carbohydrates: 77g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 537mg | Potassium: 402mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 59IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 3mg