Ingredients

• 1 oz. dried porcini mushrooms, rinsed
• 2 slices country-style Italian bread, about 1/4″ thick, crusts removed
• ¹⁄₄ cup milk
• salt
• ¹⁄₄ lb. veal sweetbreads
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1 yellow onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
• ¹⁄₂ lb. veal loin, coarsely chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp. pine nuts, toasted
• 1 tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp. finely chopped fresh oregano
• ¹⁄₄ cup freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano
• Pinch freshly ground nutmeg
• 1 egg plus 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
• 3 heads butter lettuce, washed and separated
• 8 cups rich chicken stock, warm

Instructions

1. Soak mushrooms in a bowl of warm water until soft, about 15 minutes. In another bowl, soak bread in milk until liquid is absorbed.
2. Bring a small saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add sweetbreads and blanch for 2 minutes. Drain and refresh in cold water. Remove and discard visible membranes, chop, and set aside.
3. Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add onions, cook for 5 minutes, then add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes more. Increase heat to medium-high and add sweetbreads, veal loin, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until meat is brown, 5-7 minutes. Discard bay leaf, and stir in pine nuts, oregano, and parsley; set aside to cool.
4. Drain, rinse, and chop mushroom. Transfer to a food processor, add meat mixture, and pulse until coarsely ground. Add bread, parmigiano-reggiano, nutmeg, eggs, and salt and pepper. Pulse until smooth.
5. Meanwhile, bring a small saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Blanch 24 large lettuce leaves, a few at a time, until just-wilted, 2-5 seconds. Set leaves aside on a clean work surface.
6. To assemble, place 2 tbsp. filling in each leaf. Fold in rib and top edge, then sides, to form a bundle. Continue until all filling is used. Place bundles (folded side down) in a large, deep skillet. Pour stock into skillet, cover, and bring to a simmer over medium heat, about 5 minutes. Transfer bundles to individual soup bowls, allowing 3 per serving. Ladle broth over top. Serve with parmigiano-reggiano, if desired.