Salmonella-free Salsa: Substitutes for Jalapenos

Those poor, unwanted peppers! Everywhere we turn, it seems, the FDA is banning a different food suspected of the recent salmonella outbreak. As our Health Examiner, Donna Feldman, pointed out in her recent post, the outbreak appears to be limited to food sources from Mexico and has yet to be pinned down accurately. Hence the food ban roulette.

So, if you're determined to use up your crop of homegrown tomatoes on a batch of tasty salsa or other Mexican-inspired dish, you may also be considering what you could possibly substitute for jalapenos.

The key to any good food substitution is texture and flavor - and in this case, heat. For salsa, try a mixture of green peppers (texture & flavor) and a few dashes of hot pepper sauce (heat). For nachos, consider pickled banana peppers. Pining for some cornbread? Try red chiles - though in smaller quantities, as these run higher on the heat scale.