Is pasta salad, a pasta or a salad?

[asaproque]

Hey guys! I know this might sound silly to ask! Hahaha! But... I'm scratching my head over a culinary conundrum: Is pasta salad actually a pasta dish or a salad? I'm worried I've been thinking about it wrong all this time! Can someone shed some light on this delicious yer simple dilemma? Your insights would be so much appreciated!

 

[cloudy_00]

In a sense, it is a pasta dish that is served with different vegetables and dressing. Soooo, I think it's both a pasta and a salad in a sense! lol

 

[SoulSeeker87]

Personally, I see pasta salad as the best of both worlds—it's got the heartiness of pasta with the fresh, crispiness of a salad. So, I guess you could say it's a delightful fusion of the two! Plus, it's endlessly customizable with all sorts of veggies, proteins, and dressings.

 

[TopChef_USA]

Here's what I googled:
Pasta salad (pasta fredda) is a salad dish prepared with one or more types of pasta, almost always chilled, and most often tossed in a vinegar, oil, or mayonnaise-based dressing.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasta_salad

 

[Mystique]

It's similar to having the best of both worlds! Although pasta serves as the foundation for pasta salad, it also contains a variety of fresh vegetables, herbs, and occasionally even meats like chicken or shrimp.