Spaghetti with a creamy hummus sauce

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Another interesting contender for our Gent nights, this could be made with commercially made hummus but it's even better with the home-made version

Ingredients

• 225 g (8 oz) dried spaghetti
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 150g (5 oz) fresh button mushrooms, finely chopped
• 6 spring onions, sliced on the diagonal
• 225 (8 oz) g hummus
• 3 tablespoons of Crème fraiche
• ½ teaspoon paprika powder
• lime juice or lemon juice
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Freshly chopped parsley

Method

1. Cook the spaghetti for 10 minutes in a large pan of boiling water. Drain well and return to the pan.
2. Whilst the pasta is cooking, heat the oil and butter, add a few grinds of black pepper, a shake or two of lime or lemon juice and gently sauté the mushrooms for 5 minutes.
3. Reserve one spring onion for garnish and stir in the hummus, crème fraiche, paprika and remaining spring onions and gently simmer for 5 minutes more.
4. Toss the spaghetti in the hummus sauce and serve, garnished with chopped parsley and spring onion slices.

Serving suggestions

Fresh tomatoes balance this rich, creamy dish very well.

Variations

Substitute Sundried tomato hummus for a more colourful version.

Chef's note

OK, I admit it - I was a lazy boy and used shop-bought hummus. Adding 4 peeled and crushed garlic cloves makes it a little more interesting.