How to Make a Salami Rose (2 ways!)

A salami rose is the perfect way to dress up your charcuterie board. This recipe will show you how to make a salami rose in two different ways that will be fun to put together and really wow your guests!

I love a good how-to recipe. I didn’t grow up cooking with my mom in the kitchen. I’ve had to look up a lot of things on the internet, which is why I also share a few great how-to recipes on my website. My favorite is How to Make Buttermilk, it’s come in handy so many times! Another one that sounds like a no-brainer but doesn’t work out unless you know the tips is How to Freeze Peaches. An easy one to save for later is How to make Half and Half!

A charcuterie board with salami roses and an assortment of meats, cheeses, fruits and veggies.

How to Make a Rose Out of Salami

I had so much fun putting this tutorial together for you! Charcuterie boards are the best and I make one for almost every gathering. I always make a few for the holidays, like this beautiful wreath-shaped Christmas Charcuterie board. I really loved making these roses for my Valentine’s charcuterie board, but they are a great way to dress up your simple charcuterie board too!

This recipe will walk you through step by step of how to fold your slices of salami using a wine glass (you can also use a champagne flute). I also show you how to fold salami slices without a glass and they look beautiful! You may have seen a tutorial online of someone using the rim of the glass to make salami roses, and thought, “I could do that!”. Well, now is your time to shine. You can totally do this, and I’m going to show you how!

Ingredients

You are going to need to get some sliced salami from the deli. This is usually refrigerated, or you can have them cut it fresh for you. Make sure to get it pre-sliced, because it needs to be really thin so it can bend into the rose shape. You could also use Proscuitto, pepperoni, turkey, roast beef, ham, or really any thin meat you wanted to! You will want to cut the meat using a biscuit cutter so that it is the same shape for making your meat rose. It’s a great way to make your appetizer beautiful. Don’t forget to grab grapes, olives, provolone, dried fruits, and crackers to fill up your snack board!

Italian Dry Salami: This salami is full of flavor and is what you usually find on a charcuterie board. It is full of savory spices and I’ve never met anyone who didn’t love it, especially with cheese!
Genoa Salami: This salami has wine and vinegar in it, which gives it a really bright and tangy flavor. It is so refreshing and delicious. You should be able to find it at your local grocery store.

A step by step visual explanation of how to put together a salami rose using a wine glass.

How to Make a Salami Rose Using Glass

It is so simple, and you can make different size salami flowers by using different-sized glasses. Use a champagne flute for smaller flowers, and a wine glass for a little bit bigger, You could even use a regular water glass in your house and try different sizes to see the different sizes of beautiful roses you can make.

Fold: Start by folding a salami piece over the edge of the wine glass. You will have half of the salami inside the glass and half folded over the outside.
Layer: Start layering the salami about ¼ inch over each seam.
Repeat: Continue to layer the salami over each seam until the hole in the center starts to close.
Flip: Once the hole is closed then flip the glass on your charcuterie board.
Remove: Remove the glass and lightly fan the rose.

Process photos showing the step by step process of how to put together a salami rose without a glass and putting them in a small bowl at the end.

How to Make a Rose Inside Out

This method is really pretty too. You can make smaller roses if you have small ramekins to put your beautiful rose into. This method is my favorite because it really looks exactly like a rose, and all of my guests love them too.

Roll: Start with one piece of salami and roll it up.
Wrap: Grab another piece of Salame and wrap it around the seam of the rolled-up salami. Continue to wrap around the seam with salami until it starts to take a rose shape and look like petals.
Put in Bowl: Place in a small bowl to hold the shape and gently fan out the flower. Place the flower in the center of a round board.

A close up of the meat flowers on a wooden board.

Tips for Building Your Charcuterie Board

A charcuterie board is a delicious appetizer full of preserved meats. Now that you know how to make a salami rose, you can add those as well as different cheeses, dried fruits, fresh herbs, and crackers and breads. In my opinion, a charcuterie board should be full of your favorite things to snack on! After all, the favorites will be picked over first anyways, so you might as well load up on everything you love, and leave out the rest.

Dried Fruits: If you like fresh fruit better, than just do that! My family loves dried fruits, especially apricots and mangoes. I know a lot of people who love dates and tart cherries.
Crackers: I love good old Ritz crackers. I’m not ashamed to put them on my board! You can use a butter cracker, salted crackers, wheat thins, whatever you like!
Preserved Meats: We are definitely putting salami on this board, but a few of my other favorites are Proscuitto and Sopressatta. Yum!
Cheeses: I love brie on my board! I also loved provolone and sharp cheddar. Again, use whatever you know your family will like best.

A close up of a charcuterie board with salami and crackers and cheese.

Storing Leftovers

If you have leftover salami roses, they are pretty simple to store. Because they are preserved meat, they last a pretty long time. You just don’t want to leave them out too long or they will dry out!

In the Refrigerator: Store your salami rose in an airtight container and place in the fridge. They should last for up to three weeks.