Golden French Lentil Stew from Oh She Glows Every Day

raw cashews, or 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (90 mL) raw sunflower seeds

water

extra-virgin olive oil

large yellow or sweet onion (diced, or 2 leeks, cleaned and thinly sliced (about 2 cups/500 mL))

large cloves garlic (minced (2 tablespoons/ 30 mL minced))

to 1 1/2 teaspoons 5 to 7 mL fine sea salt, to taste, plus a couple pinches

medium carrots (diced (1 heaping cup/275 mL))

stalks celery (diced (3/4 cup/175 mL))

ground cumin

dried thyme

ground turmeric

14-ounce/398 mL can of diced tomatoes, with juices

uncooked French green lentils, picked over and rinsed

low-sodium vegetable broth

stemmed and chopped Swiss chard or kale leaves

Freshly ground black pepper

to 2 teaspoons 5 to 10 mL white wine vinegar, to taste