Spaghetti with Meatballs "Burger"

Ingredients:

• 450 g of ground beef
• 1 tbsp. yellow mustard
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 cup finely chopped pickle slices + extra whole slices for serving
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 80 g sharp white cheddar (cut half into 24 small cubes, grate half)
• 340 g of spaghetti pasta
• 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• Finely shredded romaine lettuce, for serving
• Diced tomatoes, for serving
• 3 stale hamburger buns
• 2 tbsp. l. olive oil
• 0.5 cups whole milk
• 0.5 cup chopped onion

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 175°C.
2. In a large saucepan, bring salted water to a boil (for the pasta).
3. In a food processor, pulse 2 rolls until coarse crumbs form. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the crumbs and cook for 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Wipe out the skillet.
4. Break the remaining bun into pieces; soak in a large bowl with milk for 5 minutes. Drain the milk and squeeze the bread. In a bowl, combine the soaked bread, half of the toasted bread crumbs, ground beef, onion, chopped pickles, 2 tablespoons ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and black pepper to taste; mix with your hands.
5. Divide the minced meat into 24 pieces. Press a cube of cheese into the center of each piece of minced meat and form balls with the cheese inside.
6. In the same skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer the meatballs to a baking sheet; bake until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Set the skillet aside.
7. Cook spaghetti according to package directions.
8. Meanwhile, add the garlic to the reserved skillet; cook over medium heat until golden, about 30 seconds. Add the tomato paste and the remaining 2 tablespoons ketchup; cook for 1 minute, then stir in 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Drain the pasta, add it to the skillet, and toss to coat completely.
9. Divide the spaghetti among plates and top with the remaining toasted breadcrumbs; top with meatballs, grated cheddar, shredded lettuce, and tomato. Serve with pickles.