Quinoa Lentil & Kale Soup

Did you ever go out to eat at a restaurant and have something so delicious you had to go home and recreate it? That happened to me last week. 

So I was out to eat lunch with my friend Bernadette. She wanted to go to Panera Bread, so that's where we ended up. I can count the number of times on one hand I've been there too. About two other times to be exact. So I was thinking I was going to have a salad and that was it and I was ok with that. I did not even think they would have any vegan options but I was so wrong. As soon as I looked at the menu it was like this one dish screamed out to me. ha ha It's called Vegan Lentil Quinoa Bowl. So, that's what I had and when my soup was all gone, I was a little sad. I wanted more but that soup was like $9. Crazy expensive right. I knew I had to somehow try and recreate this delicious soup. 

This is one good for you soup too. It's loaded with quinoa, lentils, kale and some other vegetable's. I also added some sweet potato to make it even more hardy. 

This soup is super easy to make too. Just a little prep work and you are ready to get cooking.  Make a double batch and have soup for the week at work or school. 

Let's get started. Here is what you will need. 
4 cups of vegetable broth
2/3 cup diced carrot
2/3 cup diced celery
2/3 cup diced onion
1/4 tsp ground thyme
2 tsp mushroom powder (optional but highly recommened)
2 cloves of garlic minced
1 1/2 cups crushed tomato
1 1/2 - 2 cups of chopped kale
juice of 1/2 a lemon
1 cup water
1 cup cooked brown lentils
1 cup cooked quinoa
salt to taste

In a medium soup pan, saute the carrots, celery and onion until tender in some water or a little vegetable broth. 

Once your vegetables are tender, add the garlic, mushroom powder and thyme and give it a good stir. You can also season with salt to your liking.

Add the crushed tomato and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil and add the kale. Simmer until the kale is wilted and tender. 

Add the the quinoa, lentils, water and lemon juice and heat through. 

Give the broth a taste and adjust accordingly. Serve with sweet potato cubes to make it even more hardy and satisfying. Enjoy.