Savory Cheese Delight with Salami & Olives Recipe

Rustic Savory Cheese Delight with Salami & Olives Recipe

These savory cheese delights promise a tantalizing journey through rich, bold flavors that dance across your palate.

Mediterranean-inspired ingredients blend seamlessly in this compact, irresistible appetizer.

Salty salami and briny olives create perfect harmony with creamy cheese nuances.

Culinary enthusiasts adore these bite-sized morsels that elevate casual snacking into a gourmet experience.

Elegant yet unpretentious, these delectable munchies refine ordinary gatherings into memorable moments.

Sophisticated flavor combinations guarantee impressed guests and satisfied taste buds.

Crafting these delightful bites requires minimal effort but delivers maximum culinary satisfaction.

What to Pair with This Savory Delight Tray

  • Uncork Wine Magic: Pair this savory cheese delight with a crisp, medium-bodied Pinot Noir or a zesty Sauvignon Blanc to complement the rich salami and tangy olives.
  • Bread Companion Adventure: Serve alongside crusty artisan sourdough or rustic ciabatta slices to provide a perfect textural contrast and help soak up the delicious vinaigrette.
  • Charcuterie Board Upgrade: Transform this mixture into a stunning appetizer by spreading it over a wooden board with additional cured meats, fresh herb sprigs, and small cornichon pickles for an elegant presentation.
  • Refreshing Side Kick: Add a light, crisp arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to balance the richness of the cheese and salami, creating a harmonious and refreshing meal experience.

Tasty Variations Using Other Meats and Cheeses

  • Mediterranean Mingle: Replace salami with prosciutto and add crumbled feta cheese for a zesty Italian-inspired version.
  • Herb Garden Mix: Swap green olives for kalamata olives and incorporate fresh dill and chives to create a bright, herbaceous profile.
  • Spicy Southwest Blend: Substitute Havarti with pepper jack cheese, add diced jalapeños, and use a chipotle vinaigrette for a fiery kick.
  • Rustic Alpine Style: Use smoked Gouda instead of Havarti, include crispy bacon bits, and drizzle with a whole grain mustard dressing for a hearty German-influenced variation.

Why Cheese, Salami, and Olive Bites Are Party Gold

  • Burst with Mediterranean Flavors: This recipe captures the essence of Mediterranean cuisine, blending tangy sun-dried tomatoes, rich salami, and briny olives into a vibrant and exciting taste experience.
  • Quick and Easy Preparation: With just three simple steps, this dish comes together in minutes, making it perfect for busy home cooks who want a delicious appetizer without spending hours in the kitchen.
  • Versatile Serving Options: Enjoy this savory cheese delight as a standalone snack, spread on crackers, tossed in a salad, or as a standout addition to a charcuterie board for gatherings and parties.
  • No-Cook Convenience: By skipping the cooking process, this recipe offers a stress-free way to create a delectable dish that's packed with bold flavors and requires minimal effort.

What You Need for This Savory Cheese Snack

Cheese and Protein Base:
  • Havarti Cheese: Soft, creamy cheese that provides a mild and buttery foundation for the dish.
  • Salami: Robust and savory cured meat that adds rich, meaty flavor and protein to the recipe.
Tangy and Briny Accompaniments:
  • Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Concentrated sweet-tart tomatoes that bring intense flavor and chewy texture.
  • Green Olives: Salty and briny element that introduces a Mediterranean-style punch to the dish.
  • Cornichons: Small, tart French pickles that provide a sharp and crisp contrast to the creamy cheese.
Herb and Dressing Enhancers:
  • Fresh Basil: Bright, aromatic herb that adds fresh and peppery notes to the overall flavor profile.
  • Garlic Expressions or Italian-Style Vinaigrette: Zesty dressing that marinates and unifies all ingredients with tangy, garlicky undertones.

How to Build These Bite-Sized Flavor Bombs

Step 1: Prep Tasty Ingredients

Gather your delightful components:
  • Creamy Havarti cheese
  • Crisp sun-dried tomatoes
  • Savory salami slices
  • Briny green olives
  • Tangy cornichons

Chop each ingredient into bite-sized pieces, creating a colorful flavor playground.

Step 2: Craft Flavor Fusion

Grab a spacious mixing bowl and gently toss all chopped ingredients together. Let the textures and colors mingle and dance.

Step 3: Elevate with Herbaceous Splash

Sprinkle fresh basil leaves over the mixture. Drizzle Italian-style vinaigrette, ensuring every morsel gets a delicious coating. Use a wooden spoon to blend everything smoothly.

Step 4: Create Flavor Magic

Select a clean glass container or mason jar. Transfer the vibrant mixture, making sure to capture all the delectable bits. Seal the container or cover with a tight lid.

Step 5: Chill and Enhance

Pop the container into the refrigerator. Let the flavors meld and intensify for at least 30 minutes. The longer it sits, the more complex and delicious the mixture becomes.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Remove from refrigerator. Give a quick stir. Serve chilled as a delightful appetizer or party snack. Pair with crusty bread or crisp crackers for an extra treat.

Tips to Keep Crackers Crisp and Cheese Melty

  • Maximize Flavor Infusion: Let the mixture marinate for at least 30 minutes to allow the vinaigrette and herbs to deeply penetrate the ingredients.
  • Cheese Selection Matters: Choose high-quality Havarti with a creamy texture for the best taste and smooth consistency.
  • Chop with Precision: Dice ingredients into uniform, bite-sized pieces to ensure each spoonful has a perfect balance of flavors.
  • Temperature Trick: Remove the mixture from the refrigerator 10-15 minutes before serving to let the flavors bloom and cheese soften slightly.
  • Customization Option: Experiment with different herb combinations or swap salami for prosciutto to create your unique twist on the recipe.

How to Store and Reheat for Maximum Crunch

  • Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, keeping the mixture fresh and preventing flavor loss.
  • Freezing: Avoid freezing this dish, as the ingredients like cheese and salami may change texture and lose their original taste when thawed.
  • Reheating: Enjoy the mixture cold straight from the refrigerator, or let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to soften and allow flavors to meld before serving.
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Savory Cheese Delight with Salami & Olives Recipe

Savory Cheese Delight with Salami & Olives Recipe


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4.9 from 31 reviews

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x

Description

Cheesy Salami Olive Rolls bring Mediterranean flavors dancing across your palate with rich, bold ingredients. Crisp pastry wrapped around salty salami and melted cheese creates an irresistible appetizer that will transport hungry guests to Italian countryside kitchens.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Protein & Cheese:

  • 1 cup salami, diced into bite-sized cubes
  • 6 ounces (170 grams) Havarti cheese, diced into bite-sized cubes

Vegetables & Pickled Items:

  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes
  • ½ cup green olives
  • ½ cup cornichons

Herbs & Dressing:

  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup Garlic Expressions or your favorite Italian-style vinaigrette

Instructions

  1. Gather and prepare all ingredients by dicing the Havarti cheese into uniform small cubes.
  2. In a spacious mixing vessel, carefully combine the diced cheese, finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes, thinly sliced salami, verdant green olives, and petite cornichons.
  3. Gently tear fresh basil leaves into delicate fragments, allowing their aromatic essence to infuse the mixture.
  4. Drizzle the zesty Italian-style vinaigrette over the assembled ingredients, ensuring complete and thorough coating through a gentle but comprehensive stirring motion.
  5. Select a clean storage container – either a rustic mason jar or a sealed glass bowl – to house the flavorful medley.
  6. Seal the container securely, creating an environment that allows the ingredients to meld and develop their nuanced flavors.
  7. Place the prepared mixture into the refrigerator, allowing it to rest and intensify its taste profile for at least 30 minutes before serving.
  8. When ready to enjoy, give the mixture a final gentle stir to redistribute the herbs and dressing, then serve chilled as a sophisticated appetizer or light refreshment.

Notes

  • Customize your mix by adjusting ingredient quantities or swapping in your favorite cured meats and pickled veggies.
  • Prepare ahead for stress-free entertaining, as the flavors intensify and meld beautifully when chilled overnight.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer, Snacks
  • Method: None
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6
  • Calories: 360
  • Sugar: 3 g
  • Sodium: 1,250 mg
  • Fat: 30 g
  • Saturated Fat: 10 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 10 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 18 g
  • Cholesterol: 50 mg
Alex Reed

Alex Reed

Founder & Lead Content Writer

Expertise

Recipe Development and Testing​, Culinary Education​, Food Writing and Blogging​, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Global Cuisine Exploration

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and contemporary cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development. Emphasized hands-on experience in diverse culinary traditions.​

Le Cordon Bleu Paris

  • Program: Diplôme de Cuisine
  • Focus: Advanced instruction in French culinary techniques, including sauce preparation, pâtisserie, and haute cuisine.​

Alex Reed is an inventive chef and food creator with a passion for dishes that balance taste, health, and sustainability. 

Trained at Portland Community College and holding an Advanced Pastry Arts certificate from Oregon Culinary Institute, Alex brings more than 10 years of practical culinary experience to every recipe he develops. 

His background uniquely blends traditional cooking skills with modern, mindful eating principles. As the founder of Beard and Bonnet, Alex creates recipes that encourage readers to cook confidently.

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