Pacific Rim Cucumber Salad

¼ cup seasoned rice vinegar

1 teaspoon white sugar, or to taste

1 bay leaf

salt and ground black pepper to taste

4 Japanese cucumbers - peeled, seeded, and sliced thin

2 cups thinly sliced daikon radish

1 tablespoon fine sea salt

1 cup thinly sliced sweet onion (such as Maui®)

2 cups grape tomatoes, halved

¼ cup chopped fresh chives

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon ground white pepper

Stir rice vinegar, sugar, and bay leaf together in a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil. Whisk the boiling mixture until the sugar dissolves completely; remove from heat. Discard the bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool.

Spread cucumber and radish slices onto a layer of paper towels. Sprinkle sea salt over the cucumber and radish slices. Set aside for 10 minutes. Rinse under cold running water and pat dry with paper towel.

Toss cucumber, radish, sweet onion, tomatoes, chives, cilantro, garlic, and white pepper together in a large bowl. Drizzle rice vinegar dressing over the salad; toss to coat.