Claudia Roden claims that Italian Jews prepared it centuries before other Italians because Jewish law prohibits cooking on the sabbath.

[1] The ingredients used vary widely by region, restaurant, seasonal availability, and personal preferences.

The dish can be as simple as cold macaroni mixed with mayonnaise (macaroni salad), or as elaborate as several pastas tossed together with a vinaigrette and a variety of fresh, preserved or cooked ingredients.

These can include vegetables, legumes, cheeses, nuts, herbs, spices, meats, poultry or seafood.

[2] Media related to Pasta salad at Wikimedia Commons