Ingredient:

• 1 medium-to-large cucumber or 2 small cucumbers (ideally 12 ounces total)*
• ½ cup water, at room temperature or cooler
• ½ cup rice vinegar
• 1 ½ tablespoons maple syrup or sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons fine sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
• 20 twists of freshly ground black pepper
• 2 leafy sprigs of fresh dill, roughly chopped (about ¼ cup)
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
• 1 bay leaf