Bring a pot of salted water to a rolling boil—I use enough salt that it tastes like the sea. Add orzo and stir immediately so nothing sticks to the bottom. Cook for exactly 9 minutes, then taste one piece. It should bend slightly but still have resistance when you bite it—this is al dente, not soft.

Drain the pasta into a colander and run it under cold water for about 30 seconds while stirring gently. This stops the cooking process completely, which is crucial because warm pasta keeps softening as it cools in the bowl. Spread it on a plate if you're nervous about it sticking together—I used to do this before I realized cold running water prevents that entirely.

While the pasta cools, mince the garlic and whisk it together with lemon juice, olive oil, lemon zest, and sea salt in a small bowl. Taste the dressing as you mix because ratios depend on how acidic your lemon is—I've had lemons that were nearly sweet and others that were mouth-puckering. This is where seasoning happens, not at the end, because the pasta will absorb salt as it sits.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled orzo with the dressing immediately while the pasta is still chilled. The contrast between cold pasta and room-temperature dressing helps the oil distribute evenly—if you wait until everything is room temperature, the oil pools instead of coating each piece.

Add the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, red onion, and feta cheese to the bowl. Fold everything together gently using a rubber spatula, not a spoon, which breaks the feta. I learned this when Marco's cousin asked why her version always looked chunky—she was stirring aggressively with a wooden spoon. Work slowly and let the ingredients settle rather than forcefully combining them.

Taste the salad and adjust salt and lemon juice if needed—remember that flavors will intensify as the salad sits for an hour. Add the fresh parsley only right before serving or within the last 30 minutes, because it oxidizes and turns dark if exposed to the dressing too long. This is non-negotiable if you want that gorgeous bright green visible.