Creamy carrot soup - Good Food Middle East

Ingredients

• 1½ tbsp oil
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 celery stick, sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, 2 crushed and 1 left whole
• 1 kg carrots, thinly sliced
• 1.5 litre hot veg or chicken stock
• ½ small bunch of thyme
• 2 thick slices sourdough
• 1 tbsp mixed seeds
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1½ tbsp double cream, plus extra to serve (optional)