Neil:
I make shepherd's pie the way my mom did, and I'm terribly sorry if that offends your delicate sensibilities. Bisto, however, is simply a brand name for bouillon cubes, found at most grocers. Before you throw disdain at those different from yourself, please make sure your recipe is clear; this way you're sure to avoid sounding like an *ss, a feat you've accomplished admirably.

I wanted to make shepherd's pie since I loved it as a kid for my daughter. She does not like anything with cheese. So I was delighted to find this authentic recipe. I read her the ingredients and she can't wait to try it. Thanks for the recipe Neil (and we are American!)

Neil's absolutely right. His way is how the brits do it. But.... It never hurts to improve and since brits don't know how to cook (oliver and ramsey are just hyped up by the media), please go ahead and make your own version. I'm european (continent, not island) and even though americans still have a lot of anglican influence, they cook with much more flavor than the brits.

Nell's was right on! Americans do like to put cheese on everything that moves! FACE IT! After spending several months in Israel last year I began to realize that we are also very pampered and lazy! I loved this recipe. I make it with beef (so it is a cottage pie) because I can find kosher beef but not kosher lamb in this area.

Hey Neil---where did you go?
It looks like you rocked the recipe world with that inescapable english demeanor.
If you ever return to review this epic site, I was wondering if you knew a recipe for 'real' irish stew? Or maybe someone else might know of one.
((look--i was just on here trying to figure out how to make something with chicken and noodles--and I came across the 'most popular' list featuring 2 types of shepherds pie. And I'm thinking, who still eats shepherds pie? Because the crock pot is notorious for turning any sort of poor shepherds meat into a magical feast, now-a-days. So check out 'slow cooker' fun, it's the best american yummy.))
((And yes--pollster wise-- I do have to agree with the original poster that you didn't fail to live up to a traditional english attitude--one that is delightfully difficult to determine if you were being deliberately rude or simply civilly cheeky. But you did obviously hurt her feelings by dissing cheese. Why isn't 'everything is betta with chedda?'.))
I'll apologize for him luv, because he'll simply never be able to.
Slainte (that's cheers in gaelic)

Tell the dude to add Hatch green chile to the recipe and beef. The recipe sounds very old and perhaps not spicy enough.

I was in England in 2007, and was served many traditional British dishes. We had Shepherd's Pie, and THEY had cheese on it. Lamb, absolutely, but they also had the cheese....

I was glad to see this recipe. My mother was from England and prepared it many times. It was very good. Very interesting some of the comments....I enjoyed reading.

Everyone please calm down. Neil was giving an authentic recipe. But if anyone wants to add cheese...Go ahead. I agree with judith. The whole thing is quite hilarious.

I CANT B'LIEVE SOMEONE WOULD COME ON HERE, POST A RECIPE N THEN TELL EVERYONE 'NOT' T'PUT CHEESE ON THEIR FOOD!! CUZ IT WILL RUIN THE DINNER MORE OR LESS!! WELL IF Y'ALL DON' WANT IT ON YERS, THATS ALL GOOD.. BUT FER SOME OF US WHO LIKE IT? WE'LL OUT IT ON OURS!! WHO IS THIS NEIL GUY? THE CHEESE POLICE? HE GONA GO ROUND EVERYONES HOUSE N SAY 'EH NOW, YOU CANT BE DOIN THAT, YOU GOIN T'CHEESE JAIL!!' THEN SLAP THE CHEESE CUFFS ON US TOO??

Everyones gotta relize one thang.. Every single recipe out there in this world, someone has come up with off the top of their head!! Itsa lil bita this, n a lil bita that.. lets try this, or lets try that.. THERE AINT NO RIGHT OR WRONG WAY FER A RECIPE!! Jus cuz someone puts one on here, don'mean y'all gotta folooe it word fer word!! Y'all c'n change it if y'all want to!! It int gon make a bita difference, aint nobody else gona be eatin it!! WHO CARES!! Make it how y'want to!!

Neil, thank you for the genuine article.

Well Neil, I can imagine you've been having a wonderful laugh at all of this petty nonsense that has been going on for 6 months now. I'm a Canadian, born in England, and have eaten Shepherd's Pie all my life. We now raise our own lambs, so there'll be lots more Shepherd's pie to come.
And lighten up people, remember to laugh more, it's good for you!!

Thanks, Neil for a very good recipe it certainly calls for an appetite and pallet for the sublime and simple.
As any good cook should know simplicity and fresh ingredients make for a good dish. So many people add way too much seasoning to their cooking that it interferes with the tasting of the food.
I live in a small town in Iowa, USA but I am happy to say that we have at our disposal a small but good British store and I can and have bought Bisto and agree with you that it's the best for this recipe.
Now, I'm off to the kitchen to make me a fry up for supper.
Cheers!

Thank you Neil, I had Shepard's Pie many years ago and loved it. I have been looking for the receipe for a long time now. I will have to try it with the Lamb instead of beef.