Why should salami have all of the fun when it comes to making flowers out of deli items for pretty charcuterie boards? A cheese rose can have a place (or two or three!) on your Valentine's or spring themed charcuterie board too. The trick is to pick the right kind of cheese to make a cheese rose, because not all cheeses are going to be be able to stand up to the rolling.
What kind of cheese to use to make a cheese rose
The obvious answer is cheese that comes in round slices, like provolone usually does. But if you want to use a non-round cheese, you can cut it into circles yourself. I searched through the cheese section and the deli and provolone was the only circular cheese! I wonder why provolone is round and everything else is square.
The most important thing though, is to use cheese that has some give. Flexible cheese, if you will. Thicker cut slices, like Tillamook's cheddar is not going to work.
If you're not sure about the thickness of a pre-packaged cheese, you can also go to the grocery store deli and get them to slice it for you. Ask for a thin slice, but nothing paper thin.
Thicker (but not thick) Sargento brand provolone cheese works best with four slices per rose. The thinner deli cheese slices worked best with five slices per rose. But the best part of this is that you can experiment and see what you like best, both visually and texturally.
How to eat the cheese rose
Obviously, you have to destroy it to enjoy it. Simply pull out the toothpicks and start pulling off slices. Put some on crackers for maximum fanciness and enjoyment.
Of course you'll want some variety on your cheese board to complement the richer flavors of the cheese and meat. Pickles add a tangy element that cuts through the heaviness of the other foods. Grapes provide light sweetness, and the Italian rainbow cookies (from Enzo's in Columbia!) provides a richer sweet touch to round out this snack. I forgot to bring the crackers in for the pictures, but I like the large sized Wheat thins, or butter crackers, for my charcuterie boards.
Cheese Rose
Equipment
- 2 Toothpicks
Ingredients
- 4 slices provolone cheese or other round cheese, or cheese slices cut into circles
Instructions
- Stack the 4 slices of provolone on top of one another. Cut them in half.
- Lay them out slightly overlapping by about ¾ of the way, and have all of the straight edges lined up.
- Start at the bottom and roll the cheese slices up. Make sure the straight edges stay lined up.
- One the cheese is rolled up tightly, find the outermost edges. Push toothpicks through in a cross pattern to secure as many flaps of the cheese in the roll.
- Repeat to make more cheese flowers, or place onto a charcuterie board.
See how to roll a cheese slice rose
Rolling a cheese slice rose is as simple as rolling a salami rose, pepperoni rose, or a roll of paper, or anything, really. It just takes a little hand dexterity to keep the slices together until you can secure them with toothpicks.
Sometimes actions show it better than words, so check out my Instagram reel on how to roll up a nice cheese slice rose! Also, follow me on IG!
Looking for more charcuterie board additions?
