Ingredients:

• 4 cups water
• 20 grams kosher salt or fine sea salt (see recipe note)
• 5 cloves garlic, smashed
• 10 peppercorns, optional
• 1 to 2 dried chiles, optional
• 1 to 2 heads fresh dill, or 1 bunch fresh dill, or 1 teaspoon dried dill or dill seeds, optional
• 2 pounds small pickling cucumbers (such as Kirby), rinsed