Noodles with olives & capers

Written by on in Kids, Pasta

This is one of those dishes that just works. It’s fast, it’s flavorful, and it turns a few pantry staples into something that tastes way more impressive than it should.

I make this all the time: elbow macaroni tossed with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, capers, and olives. That’s it. No cream, no cheese, no stress—just a simple, Mediterranean-inspired pasta that’s light, salty, and totally satisfying.

The lemon gives it a bright, fresh kick. The olive oil brings everything together. And those capers and olives? They add that briny punch that keeps each bite interesting.

What I really love about this dish, though, is how forgiving it is. Got some spinach wilting in the fridge? Toss it in. A sad-looking tomato? Dice it. Leftover chicken or pork from last night? Heat it up and throw it on top.

It’s a great way to use up what you have without it feeling like a compromise. Honestly, some of the best versions of this dish have happened when I was just cleaning out the fridge.

So whether you need a quick lunch, a lazy dinner, or a solid side dish that doesn’t come out of a box—this one’s a keeper. And yeah, it’s good enough to crave again tomorrow.

Noodles with olives & capers
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Noodles with olives & capers

Recipe by ezrecipezeeCourse: Kids
Servings

2

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes
Calories

300

kcal

This dish is basically served exclusively to our son (I always make more than he can eat so I get some), and comes together in the amount of time it takes to boil elbow macaroni. So start boiling some water, and get out the ingredients and a bowl. We like ripped up baby spinach, 3 citrus olives, a teaspoon full of capers and juice, and half a squeezed lemon, but you can adjust these ratios according to your likes.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup elbow macaroni

  • olive oil

  • 1 handful of baby spinach leaves, torn by hand

  • 3 citrus olives, chopped

  • 1 teaspoon of capers, with a little bit of juice

  • 1/2 lemon, squeezed

  • pepper

Directions

  • Add elbow macaroni to boiling water.
  • While water is boiling, add ripped up spinach and olives to the bowl.
  • Drain macaroni when cooked to your liking.
  • Add macaroni to bowl on top of spinach so as to steam the spinach for 30 seconds.
  • Add olive oil, capers, lemon juice, and pepper.
  • Mix up all of the ingredients in the bowl and enjoy.