First, preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, cut the head of broccoli into bite-sized florets. In a large bowl, toss and evenly coat the broccoli florets with olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
Next, arrange florets onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Do not crowd sheet, leave space between each piece. Roast for 16-20 minutes until tender and cooked through. Flip halfway through.
Vegan Cheese Sauce
First, add water to a pot and set over high heat. Once it starts boiling, add your cashews and cover with a lid. Boil the cashews for at least 10 minutes to soften.
Once the cashews are done boiling, remove cashews from the water and keep the cashew water.
In a blender, add cashews, nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, tomato paste, garlic powder, fresh lemon juice, vegan butter (optional) and 1.5 cups of the leftover cashew water. Then, blend until smooth.
Add more water, depending on how thin you would like your sauce. Adjust salt and seasonings to your liking