Pork, Apple and Lemon Thyme Meatballs

Democracy Dies successful Darkness

For the meatballs

• 1 portion (1 ounce) achromatic bread
• 1/4 cupful low-fat milk
• 1 lb crushed pork
• 1 pome (7 oregon 8 ounces), peeled, cored and grated (about 1 1/4 cups)
• 3 scallions, achromatic and light-green parts, finely chopped
• 1/4 cupful pitted Kalamata olives, coarsely chopped (optional)
• Scant 1/2 cupful freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 1 tablespoonful citrus thyme leaves, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoonful honey
• 1 ample egg, beaten
• 1 mean clove garlic, mashed to a paste with a small kosher salt
• Freshly crushed achromatic pepper
• Kosher salt
• 1 tablespoonful olive oil, oregon arsenic needed

For the sauce

• 1 mean clove garlic, mashed to a paste with a small kosher salt
• 1 tiny reddish chile pepper, specified arsenic bird's-eye, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped (about 1 teaspoon)
• 1 tablespoonful anchovy paste (may substitute 2 oil-packed anchovies, finely chopped)
• 1 mean onion, finely chopped (1 cup)
• 28 ounces canned, no-salt-added diced tomatoes, with their juices
• 4 sprigs thyme
• 1 tablespoonful sugar
• Finely grated zest of 1/2 lemon, for serving
• 1/4 cupful freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, for serving
• Small basil leaves, for serving