Vegan Butternut Mac and ‘Cheese’ with Smoky Shiitake ‘Bacon’

Ingredients

• Smoky Shiitake ‘Bacon’
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt, plus more as needed
• ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• Mac and ‘Cheese’
• 5 cups (20 ounces) peeled and cubed butternut squash
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2¼ teaspoons sea salt, divided
• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• ½ cup raw cashews
• 1 garlic clove
• ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
• Smoked paprika, for serving