Victorian Tea Rose Appetizer (Printable)

Savory salami and pepperoni folded into rose shapes and served in delicate porcelain teacups.

# What you'll need:

→ Meats

01 - 18 large, thin slices salami
02 - 18 large, thin slices pepperoni

→ Garnishes

03 - 6 small porcelain teacups
04 - Fresh basil leaves or baby arugula, optional
05 - Edible flowers such as pansies or violets, optional

→ Board Accompaniments (optional)

06 - Assorted crackers
07 - Mild cheeses like brie or havarti
08 - Grapes or berries

# How to make it:

01 - Arrange 6 slices of salami in a slightly overlapping straight line on a clean surface, each covering about one third of the previous slice. Roll them tightly from one end to form a spiral. Stand the roll upright and gently loosen the layers to mimic rose petals.
02 - Repeat the same rolling and loosening process with 6 slices of pepperoni to create a pepperoni rose.
03 - Create a second set of roses, resulting in 3 salami and 3 pepperoni roses in total.
04 - Optionally line the base of each porcelain teacup with a fresh basil leaf or baby arugula leaves before placement.
05 - Place each salami or pepperoni rose inside a teacup, adjusting petals to appear full and natural.
06 - Optionally tuck a small edible flower into the side of each rose for enhanced presentation.
07 - Arrange the teacups on a serving board surrounded by crackers, cheeses, and fresh fruits as desired.

# Expert suggestions:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours on it when you really spent twenty-five minutes, which is the kind of magic I'm always chasing.
  • People actually stop and stare before they eat it, which doesn't happen with most appetizers.
  • No cooking required, so you can make these while wearing your nice clothes without risking a grease stain.
02 -
  • Temperature matters more than you'd think; chilled meat is much easier to work with and holds its shape better than room-temperature slices.
  • The overlap really does matter—if your slices are barely touching, your rose will fall apart the moment you pick it up.
03 -
  • If a rose starts to fall apart, don't panic—gently press it back together and refrigerate it in the cup for ten minutes; the cold will help it hold.
  • Source your teacups from thrift stores if you don't already have them; vintage porcelain is often cheaper and looks more interesting than matching sets.
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