Traditional Bulgarian Sarma Recipe (Cabbage Rolls)

Rinse the rice and strain it using a sieve.
Add the meat, onion, rice, tomato sauce, salt, black pepper, paprika, cumin, and savory into a bowl.
Stir everything together so the rice and meat are evenly coated with the seasonings.
Stir in 1 tbsp of the oil and half a cup of hot water and set the filling aside.
In the meantime, remove the stem from each cabbage leaf and cut the larger leaves in half.
Layer a tablespoon of the filling over each cabbage leaf and roll it into a log.
Place a few cabbage leaves on the bottom of a pot and start layering the cabbage rolls. Make sure the tucked ends of the cabbage rolls point towards the bottom of the pot.
Add a tablespoon of vegetable oil and a cup of the brine to the pot, then press down the cabbage rolls with a plate. Fill the pot with enough water so the cabbage rolls are barely submerged.
Simmer the cabbage rolls under a closed lid for about an hour.
Serve warm.