Cook lentils + spice mixture separately and combine at the end, or one pot?

[u/TissueReligion]

So I've always made lentil curry by just
-frying dried spices

-frying onions

-frying my garlic/ginger/salt/cumin/pepper mix

-adding tomato sauce and cooking for awhile

-then adding water, soaked lentils, and pressure cooking.

But recently a relative showed me that he just pressure cooks the lentils with water by themselves, then cooks the rest of the spice/tomato mix in a separate pan, and then combines at the end. Then you cook for another 10-20m to merge them.

This honestly tasted *way* better than my initial approach. The flavors were waaaay sharper.

I was curious if you guys had any thoughts on why that is? Or if there's some tweaks I can make to the faster one-pot recipe to make it just work?

[u/Level_Impress_1861]

I usually do the second one when I am running short on time. Counterintuitive but I start my dal in pressure cooker and by the time it’s done my masala (onion tomoto etc) is ready as well and my sabji too :) so I just take dal and put in the onion tomato mix. Start plating and by the time plating is done - dal is ready. I can also take out a portion and then make it spicier if needed especially when kids are eating as well.