Chicken Mulligatawny Soup

Ingredients

• 50 gm butter
  
  1 small onion, chopped
  
  2 stalks celery, chopped
  
  1 carrot, diced
  
  1 1/2 Tbsp plain flour
  
  1 1/2 tsp curry powder
  
  1 liter (1 3/4 pints) chicken stock
  
  1/2 apple, peeled, cored and chopped
  
  4 Tbsp basmati rice
  
  1 skinless, boneless chicken breast fillet, diced
  
  1/4 tsp salt
  
  1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  
  1 pinch dried thyme
  
  100 ml double or thick cream