Pasta with Creamy Smoked Salmon and Dill

8 cups uncooked penne pasta

sea salt to taste

2 ½ cups chopped smoked salmon

1 cup cream cheese

1 cup chopped fresh dill

5 green onions, chopped

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

ground black pepper to taste

Fill a large pot with water. Add sea salt to taste, and bring to a rolling boil. Stir in penne and return to a boil. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until pasta is cooked through but still firm to the bite, about 11 minutes.

Drain penne well, and reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water.

Return penne and reserved cup of pasta water to the empty pot and place over medium-low heat.

Stir smoked salmon, cream cheese, dill, green onions, Dijon mustard, lemon zest, lemon juice, and black pepper into pasta until cream cheese is melted, 4 to 5 minutes.