Czech tomato sauce (Rajská omáčka)

One of the most popular condiments in traditional Czech cuisine is a creamy tomato sauce called rajská omáčka. It is made with a homogeneous mixture of pureed tomatoes, boiled until it achieves the right consistency. The slightly tart taste of tomatoes is usually elevated with various spices such as peppercorns, allspice, sugar, and bay leaves, while the summer varieties often incorporate fresh basil and thyme.

Tomato sauce can be prepared fresh, but in many Czech households large amounts are made and stored in jars or bottles. Sometimes the term rajská omáčka is interchangeable with a dish that consists of slices of boiled beef served alongside bread dumplings and doused in a creamy tomato sauce.

Apart from beef, the sauce is served with numerous other Czech dishes such as roasted meat, stuffed peppers, pasta, or meatballs.