TRI-TIP ROAST WITH PARSLEY CHERRY-TOMATO

Tri-Tip Roast with Parsley Cherry-Tomato image

Yield Makes 4 to 6 main-course servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

For roast
1 (2- to 2 1/4-lb) tri-tip beef roast (also called triangular roast; about 2 inches thick)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
For parsley cherry-tomato sauce
1 1/2 lb cherry tomatoes (5 cups)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried hot red-pepper flakes
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup firmly packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 garlic clove, sliced
1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
Special Equipment
a well-seasoned 10-inch cast-iron skillet; an instant-read thermometer

Steps:

Make roast:
Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 425°F.
Pat roast dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat oil in skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sear roast until underside is browned, about 4 minutes. Turn meat over, then transfer skillet to upper rack of oven and roast until thermometer inserted 2 inches into center of meat registers 120°F, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let stand 15 minutes. (Internal temperature of meat will rise to 130 to 135°F for medium-rare.)
Make sauce while meat cooks:
Toss together tomatoes, salt, red-pepper flakes, and 1/4 cup oil in a 13- by 9-inch glass baking dish. Roast on lower rack until tomatoes burst and release their juices, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, pulse parsley and garlic with vinegar and remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a food processor until chopped, then transfer to a bowl.
Stir tomatoes with their juices into parsley mixture. Slice roast across the grain and serve with sauce.