Brussels Alley Bolognese
A slow-simmered meat sauce with hidden herbs and wine, honoring Brussels' secret alleyway culinary traditions. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 110 minutes pairs Ground beef, Ground pork, Tomato passata for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 300g Ground beef
- 200g Ground pork
- 400g Tomato passata
- 100ml Red wine
- 1 Onion
- 1 Carrot
- 1 stalk Celery
- 10g Fresh thyme
- 5g Fresh rosemary
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
Instructions
- Step 1: Finely dice onion, carrot, and celery into 1/4-inch cubes. Heat olive oil in a heavy pot over medium heat, then sauté vegetables until softened and golden (8-10 minutes).
- Step 2: Add ground beef and pork, breaking up with a spoon. Cook until no pink remains (6-8 minutes), then pour in red wine and simmer until evaporated (3 minutes).
- Step 3: Stir in tomato passata, thyme, and rosemary. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Step 4: Remove thyme and rosemary sprigs. Simmer uncovered for 15 more minutes to deepen flavors, tasting for seasoning before serving over cooked pasta.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Brussels Alley Bolognese take to make?
Total time is about 110 minutes (25 min prep + 85 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Brussels Alley Bolognese?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep ground beef from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Brussels Alley Bolognese?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Brussels Alley Bolognese for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Brussels Alley Bolognese?
Italian pasta like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Used half the salt and it was still plenty flavorful.
- ★★★★☆
Reliable weeknight option. Not going to blow your mind but always satisfying.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
