Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the fusilli or penne and cook according to the package directions until al dente, typically around 9-11 minutes. It's important not to overcook it, as mushy pasta doesn't work well in a salad.

Cool the Pasta: Once cooked, drain the pasta in a colander. Rinse it briefly under cold running water to stop the cooking process and cool it down slightly. Shake it well to remove any excess water.

Prepare the Vinaigrette: While the pasta is cooking, prepare the dressing. In a small bowl or a jam jar with a lid, combine the extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Whisk vigorously or shake the jar until the dressing is well combined and emulsified. You can learn more about creating a stable emulsion for vinaigrettes to prevent separation.

Dress the Warm Pasta: Transfer the drained pasta to a large mixing bowl. Pour about half of the prepared vinaigrette over the still-warm pasta and toss gently to coat. I find that this step is crucial as the warm pasta absorbs the dressing much better, infusing it with flavour right from the start.

Add the Vegetables: Add the halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red bell pepper, sliced red onion, and halved Kalamata olives to the bowl with the pasta.

Combine Gently: Pour the remaining dressing over the salad and add the chopped fresh parsley. Gently toss everything together until all the ingredients are evenly coated in the vinaigrette.

Add the Feta: Add the crumbled or cubed feta cheese to the bowl. Give it one last gentle stir to incorporate the cheese without breaking it up too much. We want lovely chunks of creamy feta throughout the salad.

Chill and Serve: You can serve the salad immediately, but for the best flavour, I recommend covering it and chilling it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavours to meld together. Before serving, give it a final toss and taste for seasoning, adding more salt or pepper if needed.