How to Make a Salami Rose

Check out this super easy tutorial on how to make Salami Rose in minutes with just a wine or champagne glass. I have included detailed step-by-step instructions and a few ideas to make them even prettier. They are the perfect edible ornaments to jazz up your grazing table this holiday season!

Holiday Food Boards

I love making charcuterie boards for different occasions and holidays! My Thanksgiving Brunch and Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Boards are always a hit with guests. They are quick, festive and so much fun to assemble. With the usual suspects of cheese cuts, berries, fruits, chocolates, biscuits, crackers, candies, dips, and cold cuts- you can transform a simple wooden platter into a culinary masterpiece! But just like any other way of presenting food, assembling a charcuterie board requires art and creativity. You have to consider color, texture, shape, and size when putting it all together. 

Fruits, berries, cheese, and sweets are easy, they have bright colors and interesting textures that make for easy placement. And as long as you have beautiful bowls, dips are a breeze too. Meats? Not so much. However, deli meats and cold cuts, with their pretty pink and red hues are just begging for a touch of imagination. And this is where making Salami Roses come in. So, say goodbye to boring, lined-up meat platters and start giving them a rosy flair!

What is a Salami Rose? 

This is a fun technique for turning salami cuts into a gorgeous flower shape. There are several methods to achieve this, but I find that using glass is the easiest way to do it. You can also try this method with other meat cuts for variation. 

What You’ll Need

It is surprisingly simple to make a fancy meat flower- all you need are 2 things- salami cuts and a glass. No need for sticks or twines at all— the flowers will hold their shape without them. 

• Salami– sliced thinly and evenly. You can also use Chorizo, Soperessta, Pepperoni, or any round deli meat you have. I highly recommend using Creminelli Fine Meats. Their artisan meats are the best and make for delicious additions to any charcuterie board.
• Glass- the shape of the glass would affect the outcome of the rose. Since wine glasses have wider rims, you’ll end up with bigger flowers compared to champagne flutes. Use ones with curved bowls to give the meat petals a realistic appearance. 

How to Make the Perfect Salami Rose

This super easy technique will make you a salami rose pro in no time! Make this together with your kids and turn it into a fun family bonding session! Let’s start!

1. Place a wine or champagne glass on the countertop. Take a slice of salami and fold it in the middle and place it over the rim of the wine glass. The middle part of the meat should be touching the rim of the glass. 
2. Get another slice of salami, fold it in the middle and place it partially over the first one. It should overlap at least a quarter or half of the first one. Think of it as connecting two circles like a Venn diagram.
3. Do the same to the rest of the slices until you’ve completed about two layers of petals.
4. Once you begin the third round, bring the overlapping of the salami a bit closer together. Overlap them tighter as you near the center. You decide how close you want your rose petals to be at this point. 
5. Once you are done overlapping the slices together and there is no visible hole in the middle, place your palm or a small plate on top of the assembled cuts, flip the wine glass over carefully and remove it. If it does not dislodge easily, gently twist the glass and pull with holding the salami rose down. Thus, leaving the rose for a beautiful, edible display on our charcuterie board.

Helpful Tips on How to Make Salami Rose:

• The salami pieces should be pliable to make this work. If your salami is frozen, thaw it in the fridge overnight then cut them into thin slices while still firm. Then let the slices sit at room temperature for a few minutes before starting. 
• The larger your glass is, the bigger your roses will be. So make sure to take that into consideration when determining the amount of salami to buy. 
• Use different-sized glasses for variation. When you have smaller-sized meats like pepperoni, using smaller glasses would be better. 
• A clear, smooth glass will allow you to see the inside clearer for a nicely proportioned flower. 

Styling and Add-on Ideas!

While the salami roses are as pretty as can be, a few embellishments would not go amiss! Here are some styling ideas to amp them up!

• JUICI Apples from Starr Ranch Growers – These lifestyle apples are sweet and tart and will add a burst of color + crunch to your board.

• Basil or Mint leaves- place these below the roses to give them a more enticing, natural look! You can also use rosemary or thyme sprigs.
• Cheese- place thin slices of cheese in between the petals for more color and texture. 
• Crystal bowls- place the salami roses in small crystal bowls for a dash of elegance.
• Cupcake liners- if you are planning to serve them as appetizers, place them in cute cupcake/muffin liners so your guest can easily carry them around.  
• Justin’s – Their assortment of nut butter cups would add a touch of all natural sweetness to your charcuterie board. Highly recommend their Mini Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need to cook the salami first? No need, they are pre-cooked and ready to eat when you purchase them.
2. Can I use other types of cured meat that are not sausages? Absolutely! All you have to do is to shape them in circles using a cookie cutter. This will give you more options to make a meat flower. 
3. How many slices do I need to make one rose? It depends on the size of the glass, the size of the slices, or how big you want the flower to be. 
4. Can I make them ahead of time? Sure, keep them on the glass, wrap the meat in plastic wrap and keep them chilled overnight.