Salami Roll-Ups

Salami roll-ups are a delicious, easy appetizer or snack made by rolling salami and a tangy, creamy filling in a soft tortilla. Once cut, the cross-section looks like the spiral formed by a spinning pinwheel. The dish tends to be a crowd-pleaser, so it’s never a bad idea to have a few go-to pinwheel recipes for your next party. They’ll look great on an appetizer tray and can be customized in several ways.

These salami and cream cheese roll-ups are very easy to make, too. You’ll spend more time chopping the salami than mixing the filling or rolling the pinwheels!

Ingredients for Salami Roll-Ups

• Whipped cream cheese: Whipped cream cheese mixes easily with the other ingredients. If you only have regular cream cheese on hand, stir in a little milk to make whipped cream cheese at home.
• Hard salami: You can start with whole salami or thinly sliced deli salami. Either way, chop it finely before adding it to the filling.
• Dill pickle relish: Pickle relish gives the filling a tangy flavor that balances the rich salami.
• Flour tortillas: If you store flour tortillas in the refrigerator, let them come to room temperature before adding the filling. That makes them much easier to roll up.

Directions

Step 1: Make the filling

Combine the cream cheese, salami and relish in a small bowl.

Step 2: Assemble and chill the roll-ups

Spread the filling over each tortilla. Roll the tortillas up tightly, then wrap each roll in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.

Step 3: Slice the salami cream cheese roll-ups

Unwrap the rolled tortillas and slice them into 1-inch rounds.

Recipe Variations

• Skip the tortilla: Instead of rolling the filling inside a tortilla, use sliced lunch meat as the wrapper. Spread the filling over a slice of meat (as we do in this recipe for ham roll-ups). Roll the meat around the filling, and chill the roll-ups as directed. If needed, you can spear the slices with a toothpick to prevent them from opening.
• Use different deli meats: You don’t have to limit yourself to just salami. Almost any deli meat works as long as it’s chopped finely enough to allow the tortilla to roll around the filling. Roll-ups and pinwheels are a great way to use up a package of deli meat, so try making this recipe with turkey, ham, chicken or a combination.
• Add greens to the filling: After spreading the filling onto the tortilla, add shredded lettuce or thinly sliced spinach leaves.
• Use flavored tortillas: Instead of plain tortillas, swap in spinach tortillas or sun-dried tomato tortillas.

How to Store Salami Roll-Ups

Place the roll-ups in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to three days. You can place them cut side down with wax paper between layers of slices, or you can stack them in a row with each slice at an angle for a fancier presentation.

Can you freeze salami roll-ups with cream cheese?

We don’t recommend freezing salami roll-ups made with cream cheese. After thawing, the cream cheese will have a weird texture, and the salami may taste dry. Salami doesn’t have much moisture to begin with, and freezing can make it seem even drier.

Salami Roll-Ups Tips

Do you need to chop the salami for salami roll-ups?

We recommend finely chopping the salami to create the best salami roll-ups. Even if the slices are very thin, salami can be difficult to cut, so the roll-ups may look crushed. It’s much easier to get clean slices from roll-ups made with chopped salami.

What is the best type of cream cheese for salami roll-ups?

This salami roll-up recipe calls for whipped cream cheese because it has a thin, light texture that makes it easy to spread onto the tortillas. Regular cream cheese is thicker than whipped cream cheese, so it doesn’t incorporate as well with the filling ingredients. Plus, that thick texture makes it harder to spread without tearing the tortilla.

How do you serve salami roll-ups?

Roll-ups or pinwheels are usually served as a snack, appetizer or quick lunch. If you’re serving roll-ups as a party snack, plate them on a platter with vegetables and dips for chips. Or pair them with other easy appetizers ready in 15 minutes for a robust spread.

If they’re part of a lunch box, serve salami roll-ups with other snackable bites like nuts or chunks of cheese. For a more substantial lunch, pair them with vegetarian picnic salads or summer fruit salads. If you pack the roll-ups with side dishes that use dressing, place them in a separate container. Otherwise, the dip can spill onto the roll-ups and make them soggy.