How I do it and have been taught is to instantly level the wings using aileron and then "step on the ball" almost simultaneously while keeping the pitch on 12-13 degrees. And then smoothly manouver the airplane onto the runway track on the ND.
I don't follow the FD commands initially since it's pitch+roll only where as I have to fly the airplane with pitch+roll+yaw. Once the ball is in the center and the airplane is on the rwy extended track I go back using the F/Ds with the turn coordinator centered.
When only using thrust to idle with the lever. It reduces thrust pretty smoothly and also even at idle thrust, the engine produces a considerable amount of thrust. With an instant engine surge it is possible that the aircraft would handle more abrupt and violently.