Herbed Fillet of Beef with Tomato Madeira Confit

Directions

1. 1.

   Stir together garlic, shallot, herbs, oil, kosher salt, and 2 teaspoons pepper, then rub all over beef. Marinate in a sealed large bag, chilled, 1 day.

2. 2.

   Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before roasting.

3. 3.

   Cook garlic in oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-low heat, turning occasionally, until golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Add tomatoes, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, sugar, 1/4 teaspoon table salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and 1/2 cup Madeira and briskly simmer, stirring frequently and crushing tomatoes with a heatproof rubber spatula, until tomatoes start to break down and oil separates slightly, about 1 hour.

4. 4.

   Mash garlic into tomatoes with spatula, then stir in 1/4 cup Madeira. Discard bay leaf.

5. 5.

   Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.

6. 6.

   Roast beef in a 17- by 11-inch shallow heavy baking pan until an instant-read thermometer inserted into center of thickest part of meat registers 120°F, 35 to 45 minutes.

7. 7.

   Transfer to a cutting board and let stand, loosely covered with foil, 15 to 20 minutes (temperature of meat will rise to about 130°F, for medium-rare).

8. 8.

   Meanwhile, add water and remaining 1/4 cup Madeira to baking pan and deglaze over medium-low heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 1 minute. Stir into tomato confit.

9. 9.

   Cut off and discard string from beef, then cut meat into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Serve with confit.