<p>A good rule of thumb when working with a spicy chile, like a jalapeño: The finer you dice the pepper, the more surface area is exposed, and in turn, the more of the spicy oils it releases. Here, we roughly chop the pepper which creates a medium spicy effect. For an even hotter end product, cut the pieces into a very fine dice. Care for a mild, background spice? Keep the chile whole, and fish it out at the end.</p>