Dairy-Free Mac and Cheese with Black Pepper & Broccoli

mls / 2 ½ cups water

medium potato (, peeled and cubed)

/ ⅓ cup carrots (, chopped)

garlic (, chopped, or use 1 teaspoon garlic powder))

onion (, chopped, or use ½ teaspoon onion powder)

small green chile ((optional))

small tomato (, chopped)

/ ¼ cup raw cashews (, or macadamias (or 1/4 cup pepitas to make nut-free))

/ 2 ½ cups broccoli (, chopped)

prepared mustard

soy sauce (, or tamari (or coconut aminos to make soy-free))

nutritional yeast

fresh lemon juice

extra-virgin olive oil (, omit to make oil-free)

salt (, or more to taste)

paprika

sriracha sauce ((optional))

white pepper

freshly ground black pepper (, or to taste, divided)

cooked elbow pasta (, gluten-free if necessary)