Best Tomato Confit Recipes

TOMATO CONFIT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Toss the tomatoes with the olive oil, thyme, red pepper flakes and garlic in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• Fit a baking sheet with a wire rack and arrange the tomato halves cut-side up on the rack. Cook the tomatoes until shriveled and tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Serving suggestions: Roughly chop the tomatoes, transfer to a serving bowl, top with freshly grated Parmesan and serve with crostini. Use as a condiment for roasted fish or chicken or stir into store-bought tomato sauce to improve the flavor.

SHRIMP AND GRITS WITH CREAMED SPINACH, TOMATO CONFIT AND SMOKED BACON GASTRIQUE

Steps:

• For the tomato confit: Preheat the oven to 220 degrees F. Combine the grape tomatoes, green tomato, red onion, garlic, bacon fat, olive oil, thyme, bay leaves, rosemary, sage and a pinch each of salt, pepper and sugar in a small casserole dish. Cover the casserole with foil and place it in the center oven rack. Let cook for at least 2 hours. Carefully remove the foil and inspect the confit: The grape tomatoes should be wilted, but not popped, and the red onions should be nice and brightly translucent. Discard the herb sprigs and bay leaves and keep the confit covered near the stove until ready to plate.
• For the shrimp: Heat an 11-inch saute pan over medium-high heat. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper and keep dry. Warm the butter in the pan. In batches, sear the shrimp on both sides for 2 minutes in butter. Transfer the shrimp to a plate and keep warm. Reserve the pan and drippings for the spinach.
• For the grits: Combine the cream, chicken broth, corn stock, butter, thyme and garlic in a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat and cook until boiling. Season the liquid lightly with salt. Slowly stir the grits into the liquid. Once all the grits are incorporated, turn the heat down to low and cook, stirring every minute or so, until cooked, about 10 minutes. You will know the grits are done when there's still a little texture, but the grains don't stick to your teeth. Finish with some cracked black pepper and cover until plating. If the grits become thick after standing, adding warm chicken stock will help to thin them.
• For the shrimp creamed spinach: Heat the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 2 cups of the reserved shrimp shells and sear until the shells are bright and release a nice shellfish aroma, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the Vidalia onion, bay leaf and 1 tablespoon of the garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes. Reduce the heat, add the cream and simmer until thickened and reduced slightly, 10 to 12 minutes. Strain through a mesh strainer and reserve.
• Bring a medium pot half full of salted water to a boil. In the meantime, place a large bowl of ice water nearby. When the water is boiling, add the spinach and blanch for about 30 seconds. Use tongs and carefully remove the spinach to the ice water. Drain with a colander and set aside to let dry for a few minutes.
• In the same pan used to sear the shrimp, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the spinach and cook until just beginning to wilt, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon garlic and the shrimp cream and cook until the cream thickens.
• For the bacon gastrique: Cook the bacon in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat until almost crispy, about 10 minutes.
• Add the onion and garlic and sweat lightly over medium heat until translucent. Add the brown sugar, Marsala, sherry wine and vinegar and cook until reduced, about 15 minutes, then taste. The gastrique should be rather on the thin side--chunky and sweet with a nice acidity and dark in color. Cover and keep warm until ready to plate.
• To serve: Scoop about 1 cup grits each in the center of 4 entree bowls. Divide the cream spinach among the bowls, placing it in the middle, standing tall on the grits. Arrange 6 to 8 shrimp around the spinach in each bowl. Next, spoon the warm confit tomato on top of the cream spinach. Finish with a spoon of the smoked bacon gastrique around the edge of the bowl.

TOMATO CONFIT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 110C/90C fan/gas ¼. Halve the tomatoes and place in a roasting tin with all the other ingredients. Mix everything together with your hands, then arrange the tomatoes in rows, cut-sides up. Roast for 2-2½ hrs, turning the tomatoes over after 1 hr. Can be cooled and kept in the fridge for up to a week.
• Tightly pack the confit tomatoes and tray juices into 300ml jars within 1cm of the tops and screw on lids that have been boiled for 10 mins.
• Place in a large, heavy-based saucepan with a heatproof plate covering the base. Pour in enough water to cover the jars, then bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 45 mins. Turn off the heat and leave to cool in the water.
• Wipe the jars and store in a cool place for up to 6 months. After opening, use within a week.

TOMATO CONFIT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat; stir in onion. Cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, vinegar, 1/2 of the basil, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir until tomatoes are heated through, about 2 minutes.
• Pour onion-tomato mixture into a casserole dish. Sprinkle pine nuts on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tomatoes start to brown, 25 to 35 minutes. Cool and transfer to serving platters using a slotted spoon. Serve with the rest of the basil.

THOMAS KELLER'S TOMATO CONFIT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. With a sharp paring knife, cut out and discard stem end of each tomato; score opposite end. Place tomatoes in a large bowl.
• Pour boiling water over tomatoes; let sit until skin is easily peeled, about 15 seconds. Drain tomatoes, and cover with ice.
• Peel tomatoes when cool enough to handle. Halve lengthwise and place, cut-side up, on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil; season with salt, pepper, and thyme.
• Roast until tomatoes are dried halfway through, about 5 to 6 hours. Let stand until cool. Transfer tomatoes to a storage container; pour oil from baking sheet over the top. Refrigerate for up to 1 week.

CONFIT OF WHITE BEANS WITH ROASTED TOMATO AND ORECCHIETTE FAGIOLI ALL'UCCELLETTO

Steps:

• For the beans: Place the beans in a saucepan and add cold water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, cover, and remove from the heat. Let stand for 1 hour, then drain.
• Return the beans to the saucepan along with the onion, celery, carrot and bay leaf. Add water to cover by 2 inches. Slowly bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. (If you heat them too fast, the skins may break.) Adjust the heat to maintain a bare simmer and cook, uncovered, until the beans are almost tender, 20 minutes or longer, depending on the age of the beans. Add salt, to taste, and continue cooking until the beans are tender but not mushy. Remove from the heat and let cool in the liquid. (You can prepare the beans to this point 1 to 2 days ahead; cover and refrigerate.)
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Drain the beans and discard the vegetables but reserve the liquid.
• In a preheated casserole pan that can go from the stove top to the oven, pour in 1/4 cup olive oil, add garlic cloves and allow to caramelize, about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in tomato puree, simmer about 10 seconds, then add beans and white bean liquid. Sprinkle top with cherry tomatoes, thyme, parsley, red pepper flakes, and 1 cup olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let rest for 15 to 20 minutes, then stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, taste for seasoning, and serve over orecchiette pasta.

SEARED FILLET OF SEABASS WITH TOMATO AND ONION CONFIT AND SHERRY VINEGAR NAGE INFUSED WITH TARRAGON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Slice the onions and cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Mix together in a bowl, then add 1/2 cup sherry vinegar and leave to marinate for 30 minutes.
• Place the shallots into a small saucepan and add the remaining 1/2 cup sherry vinegar. Pick off the tarragon leaves, set aside, and add the stalks to the pan. Bring the vinegar mixture to a boil and allow to reduce by 2/3. Remove pan from heat and start to whisk in the diced butter. Keep the pan warm but do not allow it to get hot as this will cause the butter to separate and will split the sauce. When all the butter has been whisked in, pass the sauce through a sieve into a clean pan and keep warm.
• Remove the onion and cherry tomatoes from the marinade and place in a saucepan. Sweat the mixture over the medium heat until the tomatoes start to break down. Add approximately 1/2 of the remaining marinade and cook slowly over moderate heat for 30 minutes.
• While the tomatoes and onions are cooking, take the sea bass fillets and the scallops and season them with salt and pepper. Sear the sea bass fillets in a very hot non-stick frying pan, skin-side down first. When golden brown, remove from the frying pan, place onto a baking tray and cook in the oven for 3 to 4 minutes. Do exactly the same with the scallops.
• Blanch the baby asparagus and chives separately, in boiling, salted water. Remove from the water and tie the asparagus into bundles of 10 using a blanched chive.
• To assemble, put 1 piece of sea bass on each plate and top with the confit of tomatoes. Place the second piece of sea bass on top and lean the asparagus bundle against the sea bass. Take the tarragon leaves that were set aside and roughly chop them. Add the tarragon to the warm sauce and spoon sauce around plate. Add a scallop to the side of each plate and serve.

ROASTED TOMATO CONFIT WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Lay tomatoes skin side-down on a rimmed baking sheet. Layer basil, thyme, and garlic on top. Drizzle olive oil over tomatoes; season with salt and pepper.
• Bake in the preheated oven until soft, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool for at least 20 minutes.
• Discard basil and thyme sprigs. Peel tomatoes and transfer to a serving dish. Place goat cheese on top. Dollop 1 teaspoon pesto over each goat cheese slice.
• Bake in the preheated oven until goat cheese is soft and starting to brown, about 15 minutes.

EGGPLANT AND TOMATO CONFIT

Steps:

• Roast the eggplant, allow to cool and cut into 1-inch dice.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick skillet and add the onions. Cook stirring, until they soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and stir together for another minute, until the garlic begins to smell fragrant. Stir in the tomatoes, eggplant, sugar, anchovies, thyme, basil sprig (but not the slivered basil), salt, and pepper. Stir together and bring to a simmer. Turn the heat to very low, cover, and cook, stirring from time to time, for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until the mixture has cooked down to a thick, fragrant mixture. Pull out the basil sprig. Taste and adjust seasonings. Sprinkle the slivered basil over the top. Serve hot or at room temperature, as a starter, a side dish, or as a topping for polenta, rice, bruschetta or pasta.

ONAGA FILLET COOKED SKIN SIDE CRISP, CONFIT TOMATO WITH TRUFFLE JUICE AND FRIED BASIL

Steps:

• Confit tomato: Skin the tomatoes, cut each into 4 quarters and de-seed. Place the tomatoes on a baking sheet, sprinkle with olive oil and a few grains of rock salt. Place in a preheated 180 degree oven for 2 hours. Remove from oven and reserve.
• Truffle juice: In a small pot combine chicken stock, truffles and truffle juice. Cook until reduced by 1/3. Remove from heat. Whip in 1/2 of the butter, and add 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil. Reserve in a warm place.
• Fried basil: In a pan heat 2 cups of frying oil to 320 degrees. Fry basil quickly so it is crisp. Remove and reserve.
• Cooking the onaga: Cut onaga fillet in 6, (6-ounce) portions. Slice the skin side with a knife, just deep enough to score the skin. In a very hot pan place 1/2 cup olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the Onaga fillets, skin side down, and half of the butter. Cook the fillets to 80 percent doneness on the skin side. Baste often the exposed side. Do not overcook, but the skin side should appear caramelized, while the other side is still pink and moist. Set aside on a rack, skin side up and keep warm. Plating: On each plate, 3 segments of tomato, brushed with extra virgin olive oil, 3 basil leaves, 1 onaga fillet and hot truffle oil all around.

TOMATO CONFIT FOR RAW-ARTICHOKE-AND-TOMATO SALAD

Steps:

• Boil a small pot of water. On bottom of each tomato, make small X with a knife. Blanch tomatoes for about 20 seconds just until the skin starts to tear. Remove; plunge into an ice bath. When cool, remove from water. Skin will peel right off. Cut lengthwise into quarters. Remove seeds and center pith. Cut each quarter into thirds lengthwise.
• Heat oven to 200 degrees. Gently toss the tomatoes with oil in a small bowl, and season with salt, pepper, and sugar. Place the tomato mixture in a 9-by-13-inch Pyrex baking dish. Cook for 2 1/2 hours, gently stirring the tomatoes occasionally. If the oil begins to bubble, reduce the heat. Turn the oven off, and leave the tomatoes in the oven until cool, 4 to 6 hours. Can be stored in refrigerator in the oil several days.

DECONSTRUCTED ROASTED TOMATO GRITS AND SHRIMP, WITH SAUTEED BABY MUSTARD GREENS AND BACON "CONFIT"

Steps:

• For the bacon confit: Blot the bacon with paper towels and place in a small roasting dish Combine the cinnamon, cloves, pepper and thyme in a small bowl. Rub the bacon with the spice mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 12 hours.
• Melt the bacon fat in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the bacon and cook slowly until golden brown and crisp on one side, about 10 minutes. Turn the bacon and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook the bacon until crisp, about 10 more minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl, drizzle with a splash of vinegar and garnish with parsley. Reserve the bacon fat for the mustard greens.
• For the roasted tomatoes: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Mix together the oil, thyme and some salt and pepper. Place the tomatoes in a baking dish and drizzle with the oil mixture. Then sprinkle with the sugar. Bake the tomatoes until they are completely softened and start to wrinkle, 30 to 40 minutes.
• For the cheese grits: Bring 6 cups of water and the milk to a boil in a medium saucepan and season with salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the grits and bring back to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, whisking constantly. Cook until mixture is thick and tender, about 30 minutes, adding more water, if needed. Mix in the Cheddar and Pecorino-Romano until thoroughly incorporated. Season with some salt and pepper. Cover and keep warm until ready to serve.
• For the sauteed baby mustard greens: Heat the butter and 2 tablespoons of the reserved bacon fat in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the red pepper flakes and garlic and cook until the garlic is softened, about 1 minute. Add the mustard greens and season with salt and pepper. Toss just to coat with the fat. Add a splash of water and cook until the greens are just wilted, about 2 minutes.
• For the shrimp: Heat the oil in a large saute pan over high heat until it begins to shimmer. Add 8 to 10 shrimp, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until well-seared and crisp but just cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Repeat with the remaining shrimp.
• On a serving platter or individual plates, spoon and slightly spread a mound of hot grits (if they have gotten too stiff, thin them a bit by whisking in hot water over low heat). Spoon the tomatoes on top, then add the greens and bacon. Top with the shrimp.

SANTA BARBARA SPOT PRAWNS WITH TOMATO CONFIT, GARLIC, AND CHILE

Steps:

• Use kitchen scissors to cut the shells of the spot prawns down their backs, from the base of their heads to the tip of their tails. (Don't remove the shells.) If the prawns are wet, dry them with paper towels.
• Heat two heavy-bottomed sauté pans over high heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Swirl 2 tablespoons olive oil into each pan, and carefully place the prawns in the pans, on their sides. (You will need to cook the prawns in batches to avoid overcrowding them.) Season each batch of prawns with 1/2 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Pour another 2 tablespoons oil into each pan, and cook about 5 minutes, until the shells get some color and the flesh begins to turn opaque on the first side.
• Turn the prawns over, drizzle another 2 tablespoons oil into each pan, and season the second side of each batch with 1/2 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Cook another 3 minutes or so, until the prawns are just cooked. (You can peek inside the cut shell to see that the flesh is completely opaque.)
• Remove the prawns to a platter, and turn the heat under both pans down to medium-low. Divide the shallots, thyme, and sliced chiles between the two pans. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Cook 2 minutes, until the shallots are translucent, scraping the pan with a wooden spoon to release all the flavorful shrimp bits. Divide the garlic between the pans, and cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often, until the shallots and garlic are soft and just starting to color. Turn the heat back up to high, and add half the cherry tomatoes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and lots of freshly ground black pepper to each pan. Taste for seasoning, and cook a minute, stirring often.
• Spoon the hot yellow tomato confit onto a large warm platter.
• Add half the prawns, sliced parsley, oregano, and the two basils to each pan, and roll the prawns in the cherry tomatoes to coat well. This final step is a little cumbersome but really helps coat the prawns in the cherry tomato sauce.
• Arrange the prawns on the platter, and squeeze a generous amount of lemon juice over them. Spoon the remaining cherry tomato sauce over the top.
• Serve with lots of crusty bread for sopping up the sauce and juices. The prawns would also be great with steamed rice or over pasta.
• Yellow Tomato Confit
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Scatter the red onion, chiles, garlic, and basil and oregano sprigs in a baking dish. Core the yellow tomatoes and place them, stem side down, on top of the onions. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt, and pour the olive oil and 1 cup water over the tomatoes.
• Cook the tomatoes in the oven about 50 minutes, until they soften and blister. Remove the pan from the oven, and let cool 10 minutes. Strain the tomatoes and onions over a bowl, saving the juice. Discard the herbs and half the chiles.
• Transfer half the tomato mixture to a blender with 1/2 cup of the liquid. (You will need to purée in batches.) Process at the lowest speed until the tomatoes are puréed. Pour in more liquid, a little at a time, until the tomato confit is the consistency of heavy cream. Turn the speed up, and blend about a minute, until completely smooth. Transfer to a container, and repeat with the second half of the tomatoes. (You may not need all the liquid.) Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Taste for seasoning.
• Note
• If you can't find spot prawns, make this summer dish with another type of fresh prawn or large gulf shrimp sold in their shells.
• You can make the yellow tomato confit in the morning. The rest of the cooking must be done at the last minute, but you can get all the slicing and herb-prepping done ahead, so that when it comes time to cook you'll be ready. The spot prawns should be cleaned right before they're cooked and not any earlier. When it comes to sautéing the prawns, for six people you'll need two or three sauté pans, or you can do them in batches. While cooking the shallots and tomatoes in one pan, you could be sautéing the last batch of prawns in the other.

RED AND YELLOW CHERRY TOMATO CONFIT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spread tomatoes and garlic out on a baking sheet. Drizzle with oil, and sprinkle with rosemary, crushed red pepper, a large pinch of salt and several grinds of pepper. Bake until tomatoes are wrinkled and fragrant, about 45 minutes, shaking pan once or twice. Transfer tomato pan to a rack to cool. Discard garlic. Use confit in salads, or serve over dishes like pasta, fresh ricotta cheese or polenta, or on grilled meats, fish or fowl.

SALT COD IN TOMATO GARLIC CONFIT

Steps:

• Soak and poach cod:
• Cover cod with 2 inches of cold water in a large bowl and soak, chilled, changing water 3 times a day, up to 3 days (see cooks' note, below).
• Drain cod and transfer to a 3-quart saucepan, then add 6 cups water. Bring just to a simmer and remove from heat. (Cod will just begin to flake; do not boil or it will become tough.) Gently transfer cod with a slotted spatula to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Cover with a dampened paper towel and chill while making confit.
• Make confit and cook fish:
• Cook garlic in oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately low heat, turning occasionally, until golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Add tomatoes and sugar and cook, stirring frequently, until tomatoes break down into a very thick sauce and oil separates, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Mash garlic cloves into sauce and add salt and pepper to taste. Spread sauce in a 3-quart gratin dish or other flameproof shallow baking dish and arrange fish over sauce.
• Preheat broiler.
• Whisk together mayonnaise, crème fraîche, and water and spread over each piece of fish. Broil fish 5 to 6 inches from heat just until mayonnaise mixture is lightly browned, about 2 minutes.

ROASTED HALIBUT WITH RED PEPPER CONFIT AND SPICY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• to make confit: roast 4 yellow, 4 red peppers covered in aluminum foil in oven @ 300F for 1 hour. After roasting, let peppers cool down and then peel off skin. When peppers are peeled, using a cutter ring, cut 5 circles out of each pepper. confit hte pepper circles in olive oil for 45 min. (cook very slowly) after cooking, store in container with olive oil to let them rest. to make pepper vinaigrette: dice the remaining yellow, red and green peppers in small cubes and blance for a few seconds. In a bowl, add diced peppers, chopped basil, the juice of half a lemon, 6 T olive oil and pinch of salt to make tomato sauce: slice 8 cloves garlic and brown in EVOO. Add chili flakes, leftover roasted peppers, sliced tomatoes, and chix stock. Let mixture cook slowly for 45 min. After, pour mixture into blender and blend until it has a sauce consistency. Add salt to taste. Roast filets of halibut in oven at 375F for 8 min immediately for serving To serve, place fish in center of plate. After on the righ and left sides of fish, place the red and yellow pepper circles in alternating colors in a straight line. sprinkle the pepper vinaigrette to the top and bottom of fish in a straigh line forming a square around the fish with the pepper circles. Finish by drizzling the sauce around the fish and enjoy.

ASPARAGUS WITH TOMATO-SHALLOT CONFIT

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Blanch the tomatoes for 12 to 15 seconds. Remove, and when cool enough to handle, peel the skin. Cut the tomatoes into fourths and remove seeds. Cube the tomatoes. There should be about 1/2 cup.
• In a separate pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring, for two minutes. Add the tomatoes and garlic clove. Cook, stirring, for one minute. Adjust seasonings, and set aside.
• Place the asparagus in a pan, and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil, and cook for about two minutes. Remove from the heat immediately. Drain, and serve with shallot-tomato garnish.

HEIRLOOM TOMATO CONFIT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high. Prepare an ice bath.
• Score a shallow X in the bottom of each tomato with a knife, then place in boiling water for about 10 seconds. With a slotted spoon, transfer tomatoes immediately to ice bath. When cool, remove and peel tomatoes by gripping the skin between your thumb and the flat part of a knife blade, starting at the scored X.
• Combine tomatoes (cored-sides down), basil, and garlic in a shallow baking dish. Sprinkle generously with salt; drizzle with oil. Bake until tender, about 50 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Transfer tomatoes with their juices to quart-size glass jars, leaving 1/2 inch of headspace. Freeze until ready to use, up to 1 year.

TOMATO CONFIT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Bring a large pot over water to a boil over high heat. Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Cut a small X into the bottom of each tomato. Add tomatoes to boiling water for 10 seconds. Immediately transfer tomatoes to ice-water bath using a slotted spoon; let cool. Peel and core tomatoes.
• Place basil sprigs and garlic slices in the bottom of a small baking dish. Top with tomatoes, core side down. Sprinkle with salt; drizzle with olive oil.
• Transfer tomatoes to oven and bake until lightly browned and tender, about 50 minutes. Let tomatoes cool before transferring to an airtight container. Cover tomatoes with olive oil and refrigerate, covered, up to 5 days.

HERBED FILLET OF BEEF WITH TOMATO MADEIRA CONFIT

Steps:

• Marinate beef:
• 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.
• Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before roasting.
• Make confit:
• 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.
• Mash garlic into tomatoes with spatula, then stir in 1/4 cup Madeira. Discard bay leaf.
• Roast beef:
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• 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.
• 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).
• 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.
• Cut off and discard string from beef, then cut meat into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Serve with confit.