How to Make Salami Roses

Hand holding a flower made of pepperoni slices above a wooden cutting board with salami rose.

Want to take your charcuterie board to the next level? Try making salami or chorizo roses! These edible flowers are super easy to create and add a fancy touch to any spread.

Course Appetizers, snacks

Cuisine Global

Diet Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Lactose

Keyword salami rose

Special Diet Candida Diet, Carnivore Diet, Dairy free Recipes, Gluten free Recipes, Keto, Low Carb, Paleo

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings rose

Calories 549kcal

Author Tracy Ariza, DDS

Equipment

A small glass a shot glass works well
toothpicks

Ingredients

15 slices salami thinly sliced in circles, can use other meats

Instructions

Method 1: Shot glass salami rose

Place a slice of salami or chorizo on the rim of the glass so that half of it is inside and half is hanging out.
Continue adding slices around the rim, slightly overlapping each piece. The more slices you add, the fuller your rose will be!
Once you have about 10–15 slices layered around the glass, gently press them down to secure their shape.
Turn the glass upside down onto your charcuterie board and carefully remove the glass—your salami rose should hold its shape!
To fill the space between the center and outer petals of your rose, cut some meat slices in half and layer them in that space. You can slip one of the edges under some of the rose petals to help keep them in place.

Method 2: Free-form rolled salami rose

First, to form the center of the rose, roll a slice of salami or chorizo into a triangular roll to form the center of the flower.
While holding the rolled slice, place another slice over the seam of the first slice.
Continue adding slices around the previous ones, slightly overlapping each piece. You can even fold the edges over slightly to make the "petals" look more realistic.
After you've used enough slices to make a rose shape that you like, grab two toothpicks. Cross them through the bottom of the flower to hold it together.
Cut off excess toothpick ends so they don't stick out too far from the flower. If you have a lot of extra meat below the toothpicks, you can also use some kitchen shears to trim it off.

Video

Notes

The methods

The easiest way uses a shot glass to help form the flower. This method is the easiest and doesn't need any toothpicks, but the resulting rose isn't as realistic-looking (imo). It does make a flat flower, though, that sits perfectly on your charcuterie board or plate.

The second method results in a more realistic-looking rose, but takes a little more creativity as you'll be shaping the flower by hand. You'll also need toothpicks to hold the finished flower together. Another downside is that the flower may not lie flat on the display tray. You can use this to your advantage, though, by displaying different heights and textures in your charcuterie board.

Expert tips

For the best roses, choose round, thin slices of cured sausages like salami, pepperoni, or chorizo. Avoid greasy or overly soft meats that don't hold their structure well. It should be firm, but pliable. Genoa salami, soppressata, pepperoni, or hard Spanish chorizo are great choices since they generally hold their shape well.
Buy the meat pre-sliced to save time and have slices of equal thickness.
If your chorizo or salami is too stiff, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before shaping it. If it’s too soft, chill it for a short time so it holds better.
A wider glass will create a larger, more open rose with an open center. When using a wider glass, use bigger or more slices of meat to help fill the flower. You could also add a spread like cream cheese to the open center of the flower for a different look.
Use cheese? I haven't had a lot of success with making roses with cheese as most cheeses have broken when I tried to shape them. Some people have made cheese flowers successfully by rolling circular cheese slices and securing the roses with a toothpick like in method 2 above. Heating the cheese may make it pliable enough to form flowers better.
Make a Valentine's Day charcuterie board – Serve your roses with cheese and other meats. Consider using bacon roses and chocolate-covered strawberry hearts for an ideal Valentine's Day charcuterie board. You can fill in the spaces with nuts and berries or other treats like small chocolate truffles.

Nutrition