Garlic salt tastes like a milder version of garlic, balanced with the salty flavor of table salt. Because it's a mixture of garlic powder and salt, the strong garlic flavor is diluted, making it less intense than using pure garlic powder or fresh garlic.
Essentially, you'll get the distinct savory and slightly pungent notes of garlic, but tempered by the salt. This makes it a convenient way to add both garlic flavor and saltiness to dishes. However, it's important to remember that it contains both, so you'll need to adjust the amount of additional salt you add to your recipe accordingly to avoid over-salting.
Here's a breakdown:
- Garlic Component: The primary flavor comes from dried garlic, which offers a less sharp and slightly sweeter garlic taste compared to fresh garlic.
- Salt Component: The salt enhances the garlic flavor and provides the expected salty taste. This helps to bring out the garlic flavor.
- Overall Impression: The combination creates a balanced seasoning that is both savory and salty with a discernible, but not overpowering, garlic presence.
Therefore, garlic salt delivers a salty, savory flavor with a relatively mild garlic taste.