Jalapeño peppers (pronounced "hal-a-PAY-nyo") are medium-sized chile peppers with a moderate amount of heat, used to flavor everything from salsa to chili to salad dressing.
Fresh jalapeños can be chopped, sliced, or diced, depending on your intended use. Prep a small dice to spread the heat evenly throughout a salsa or salad dressing. Slice jalapeño rings when you want to concentrate the heat into a bite, such as on nachos. You can reduce the heat level by removing the ribs and seeds. But use caution when working with fresh jalapeños—the oils can get on your fingers and cause discomfort if you touch your eye, nose, or other areas with sensitive skin.