i think combining watery things and oily things counts as emulsion, which is a cooking sort of word. i thought “cooking” was a word for “changing the chemical properties of” or just “heating up because it’s better hot”

I mean more general than heat with a stove. Not as is every form of meal preparation.

But yes. I would cook a salad - stir frys are basically just cooked salads with some rice or noodles. I would not consider every salad to be cooked though.