Channa

Channa refers to chick peas in Hindi. While I pronounce it my typical ChA-nAH, my Indian friends, constantly berate me saying it is ChUH-NUH. To make a ‘crunchier’ channa, don’t simmer the chickpeas but soak them overnight. This East Indian snack should be served warm or at room temperature in bowl as a side dish or a snack.

Ingredients:

8 oz dried chickpeas, soaked overnight and drained; or canned chickpeas, drained
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
½ tsp cumin
¼ tsp chili powder, or paprika
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:
If using dried chickpeas, cover with 4 cups boiling water, add ½ tsp salt, and simmer over medium heat until tender, about 45 minutes. Drain.

Heat oil in a frying pan until hot. Add onion and sauté until golden. Add chickpeas and seasoning and sauté 3 to 4 minutes.

Tags: Guyana Cookbook, Recipes

About The Author

Lily Bengfort

Guyana, South American born Lily Bengfort's family emigrated to the U.S. when she was a child. During her diverse life and career, Bengfort served as a chief of staff to a Maryland Senator, worked in marketing for a Fortune 500 company, served as a Capital Campaign Chair for a non-profit, and worked as a Journalist for a Public Radio Station. However, her entrepreneurial bent from her Guyanese mother propelled her into successfuly launching and selling several start-ups. After selling a successful start up in 2000, Bengfort co-founded CenGen--short for Consulting and Engineering Next Generation Networks--where she served as President and CEO. The wireless communications and networking company was built into a mutimillion-dollar concern before being acquired by DRS Technologies, a multi-billlion dollar defense contractor in December 2010. Bengfort and CenGen won several awards including the U.S. Small Business Administration MD Small Business Person of the Year 2010; Influential Marylander 2011, The Daily Record; American Success Award, FIRN 2009; Maryland Technology Company of The Year 2006; Howard County EDA Achievement Award 2006; DARPA Director’s award to CenGen for helping the agency fulfill its mission to “conceive, explore, and demonstrate advanced and breakthrough concepts and technologies; Bravo Business Achievement Award from Smart Woman/Smart CEO 2005 and Maryland Incubator Company of The Year, 2005. Holding an MBA from Loyola College of Maryland and a B.A in English from University of Maryland Baltimore County, Bengfort (President of Muse 12, LLC and Green Mango Enterprises serves on the Dean's Advisory Council of the Merrick School of Business at the university of Baltimore and teaches an Applied Entrepreneurship program for women called ACTIVATE. "One thing that I try to do is help other women entrepreneurs from all over the world as well as locally," noting her involvement with ACTIVATE, the Howard County Economic Development Authority Tech Council and University of Baltimore.