# What is a salad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [June 19, 2026, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018 "2026-06-19T11:37:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/41 "2026-06-21T01:30:39Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > Salad is what I eat when I’m waiting for the main part of my meal. That would typically be called an “appetizer” or, more properly, a “first course”, which describes an order of presentation and is distinct from “salad” which is a specific kind of food. In my experience, though, a salad served before dinner is simply “salad”, and soup thus served is “soup”, while anything else is a first or second course, as the case may be. But if the first or second course is, in fact, a salad, then we are at an impasse – it may be called either. 😉 I’ll also add that on the subject of food terminology, I find the term “appetizer” rather counterintuitive. If you’re hungry, then you’re ready to dive right in to the main course. If you’re not hungry, then stuffing your face with food isn’t going to make you so. “First course” is a more appropriate term, IMHO, to describe a pre-dinner treat. Please note that the above are my personal opinions and mostly in jest. I don’t really care what you call anything! 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/42 "2026-06-21T07:49:32Z")
Is coleslaw a salad? Let’s look at the parameters. Is it mixed garden vegetables? Yes. Is it dressed with some kind of dressing? Yes. Is it typically served cold? Yes. Having fulfilled the requirements, then cole slaw is a salad. I know that a mayo-based dressing is popular when it comes to cole slaw, but you should also give the oil and vinegar based cole slaws a chance. A deli in Toronto did such a good one that it branched out into selling it at supermarkets. I like the idea above about adding oil and vinegar, or Italian, dressing to a supermarket “cole slaw” of shredded cabbage and carrots. That deli may be long gone, but I may be able to re-create their cole slaw if I try the same. Thanks for the idea! ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/43 "2026-06-21T10:49:41Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I’ll also add that on the subject of food terminology, I find the term “appetizer” rather counterintuitive. If you’re hungry, then you’re ready to dive right in to the main course. If you’re not hungry, then stuffing your face with food isn’t going to make you so. “First course” is a more appropriate term, IMHO, to describe a pre-dinner treat. It’s simple: the first course is called the “entree”, while the main course is called the “entree”. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/44 "2026-06-21T11:19:26Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Is coleslaw a salad? Let’s look at the parameters. > > Is it mixed garden vegetables? Yes. > Is it dressed with some kind of dressing? Yes. > Is it typically served cold? Yes. > > Having fulfilled the requirements, then cole slaw is a salad. It’s absolutely a salad, regardless of the dressing. I’m not familiar with the deli coleslaw you mention, but a local supermarket sells a very nice creamy coleslaw in their deli section. The tangy creamy dressing completely reversed my idea – probably from long-ago days of crappy KFC coleslaw – that it was some inedible concoction of raw cabbage, to appreciating it as a very tasty salad in its own right. The difference is that leafy salads are typically served as a separate course, while non-leafy ones like potato salad and coleslaw make great sides for many meals. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/45 "2026-06-21T16:25:21Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > I know that a mayo-based dressing is popular when it comes to cole slaw, but you should also give the oil and vinegar based cole slaws a chance. A deli in Toronto did such a good one that it branched out into selling it at supermarkets. I have a recipe for a slaw with a decided Asian influence. It’s become one of my favorites, especially to accompany rich, fatty meats such as barbecued ribs. The dressing is made with rice vinegar, peanut butter, garlic, ginger, soy sauce and sesame oil among other things, and the salad is full of very flavorful vegetables: Red and green cabbage, matchstick carrots, red peppers, green onions and cilantro. It’s wonderful, and it’s definitely a salad! ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/46 "2026-06-21T16:40:16Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I’m not familiar with the deli coleslaw you mention … I’m sure you remember Shopsy’s. They had about three or four restaurant locations in the GTA, and they sold their cold cuts, and their oil and vinegar cole slaw in supermarkets. I always looked forward to visiting when I was in Toronto, but sadly, they went out of business. My fallback was Yitz’s, but it appears that now, they are out of business too. Are there any good delis like that still in Toronto? @Aspenglow , that sounds delicious! Maybe I should consider an early lunch … 😉 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/47 "2026-06-21T17:37:47Z")
Try [Lexington-Style Red Slaw](https://www.seriouseats.com/lexington-style-red-coleslaw-recipe) the next time you do pork. Definitely not your mayo-based salad! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/48 "2026-06-21T19:10:27Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Are there any good delis like that still in Toronto? I don’t personally know of any great standalone delis, but I’m sure they exist. There are probably some in the Jewish section of North York. I no longer live in the city anyway. But if someone were to ask me for a great deli suggestion, I would point them to the inimitable Pusateri’s. I have no idea where they get their deli items, but they have tons of stuff you won’t find anywhere else, along with a superb meat counter, and a fish shop that features the best smoked salmon I’ve ever had in my life! ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/49 "2026-06-21T19:22:03Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Try [Lexington-Style Red Slaw](https://www.seriouseats.com/lexington-style-red-coleslaw-recipe) the next time you do pork. I will give it a try sometime! Thanks for the suggestion. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/50 "2026-06-21T19:52:58Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Lexington-Style Red Slaw When I make red slaw, I mix BBQ sauce with mayo (about 2:1), then add a little sugar and vinegar to taste. I pile it on pulled pork sandwiches, and the slaw that doesn’t fit on the sandwiches goes on the side. Now I’m hungry for pulled pork sandwiches! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2026, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/51 "2026-06-21T20:20:45Z")
I make me a warm, wilted kale or spinach with tiny amount of bacon and onion. I eat it to fill up my calorie need without over carbing. I’m not sure I consider it a salad. But I do like it. SpongeBob SquarePants has a whole episode about “Sal-LAD”. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/52 "2026-06-22T17:03:01Z")
Here’s a more complicated question… Is kimchi or sauerkraut a salad? I’d suspect that sauerkraut isn’t, as it’s almost always just cabbage, and doesn’t have any other distinct ingredients. A salad typically has multiple things mixed in. Kimchi, though, can consist of multiple vegetables. Does the act of fermenting make it no longer a salad? I will say that I’ve seen recipes for “sauerkraut salad” where you add other things to sauerkraut. For example: [https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/9456/sauerkraut-salad/](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/9456/sauerkraut-salad/) For that matter, is a leafy vegetable, say, iceberg lettuce, tossed with a dressing (ranch maybe) and nothing else a salad? Because I’ve certainly had “side salads” that aren’t any more complicated than that. A Caesar salad, one of the most popular salads (my general favorite) is often just romaine lettuce, dressing, and parmesan, with optional croutons and maybe a protein added (like shrimp or chicken). But at it’s most basic it is just romaine and dressing. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/53 "2026-06-22T19:37:44Z")
> [@saucywench](#): > > It is primarily done to cleanse the palate, aid digestion, and prevent over-filling prior to the main entrée. If it’s eaten _last_, how can it precede the main entrée? 🤔 🤨 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/54 "2026-06-22T19:38:57Z")
Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/55 "2026-06-22T19:44:39Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Does the act of fermenting make it no longer a salad? I’d say yes. Fermentation is basically a form of cooking, and a cooked vegetable dish isn’t a salad. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/56 "2026-06-22T20:03:03Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > a cooked vegetable dish isn’t a salad. Potato? Three bean? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/57 "2026-06-22T20:17:50Z")
Certain of the ingredients may be pre-cooked, but they’re mixed together cold, and not cooked as a dish. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/58 "2026-06-22T20:45:55Z")
> [@saucywench](#): > > It is primarily done to cleanse the palate, aid digestion, and prevent over-filling prior to the main entrée. At a formal meal in France, a salad is served after the main course. (Note that the entrée comes after the aperitif and before the fish). ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/59 "2026-06-22T21:07:31Z")
So there is more than one entrée? Or the main course is not an entrée? ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018/60 "2026-06-22T21:37:25Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Or the main course is not an entrée? This. The way Europeans use the term, in a formal multi-course meal, the entrée is not the main course. The entrée is the “entry” to the meal, more like an appetizer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-salad/1031018.md?page=4)