Bitter Melon Salad with Dried Shrimp

BITTER MELON IS THE VEGETABLE THAT MOST VIETNAMESE KIDS DESPISE EATING – ITS SKIN IS ALL WRINKLY AND IT HAS A BITTER AFTERTASTE, HENCE ITS NAME. WHEN WE WERE KIDS, WE WERE FORCED TO EAT IT, FOR IT WAS ‘COOLING’ FOR THE BODY. IT WAS THE YIN THAT BALANCED OUT THE YANG. YIN FOODS COOL THE BODY, REDUCE TENSION, LOOSEN THE MUSCLES AND SLOW THE BODY DOWN, AND YANG FOODS DO THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE. I HAVE GROWN TO LOVE BITTER MELON, AND IF YOU HAVEN’T TRIED IT BEFORE, THIS SALAD IS A GREAT INTRODUCT