Roast the garlic

• Heat the oven and place the garlic cloves in a small baking dish with a drizzle of olive oil.
• Roast until soft and golden, then set aside.

Make the meatballs

• In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, parmesan, half of the chopped onion, salt and pepper.
• Mix gently until just combined, then roll into even meatballs.

Brown the meatballs

• Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat.
• Brown the meatballs on all sides until deeply colored; they will finish cooking in the sauce.

Start the tomato sauce

• In a saucepan, soften the remaining onion in olive oil over medium heat.
• Add the roasted garlic, crushing it into the pan, then pour in the crushed tomatoes and add the oregano, salt and pepper.

Simmer the meatballs in the sauce

• Lower the browned meatballs into the sauce.
• Cover and simmer gently, turning occasionally, until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce has thickened.

Finish and serve

• Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning.
• Scatter the torn basil over the top and serve hot.