Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
Add the ground turkey to the pot, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon and cooking until browned.
Stir in the diced onion, carrots, and celery, and sauté for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are slightly softened.
Add the minced garlic and dried thyme, cooking for another 60 seconds until the aroma is released.
Rinse the dry lentils under cold water and add them to the pot along with the vegetable broth and the bay leaf.
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes until the lentils are tender.
Remove the lid and stir in the chopped kale, sea salt, and black pepper, allowing the kale to wilt for 2 minutes.
Discard the bay leaf and ladle the soup into bowls to serve.