what the hades is Bisto. American and proud of it. and besides I thought we were friends with the British. Come World lets have a party. why can't we all get along.

Yum! This recipe is like what I've had in UK and Ireland - the gravy makes the difference. French-American here - LOVE good cheeses but NOT all over every food that is put in front of me. I think the difference in American version is there is no gravy thus, the cheese is used for "moisture". Try it the "authentic" way! (and enjoy Neil's sense of humor :-)

Sorry but why are you cooking the mince for 2hours!!
Sautee onion until translucent then add mince and brown. Add bisto gravy, and any veg you like. especially good is peas, carrot and parsnip cubed. Top with mashed potatoe and `place in oven until potatoe is crispy and brown

The way it is presented is pretty rude, but that's just my opinion, who cares. Anyway, the meat should NOT be cooked before starting the recipe, right?!

Excellent!!!! Love it. And I'm American and why on EARTH would anyone put cheese in-any kind-of shepherd's pie!? Eek!! And I dont think he was being snobish at all; just telling it like it is! ;) Thanks for the recipe!! I'll be keeping this one!!

Wow, some of you guys really take things personally. Don't be so sensitive.Neil's recipe is correct but you can make things how you please. I always believe, though, that you should know the rules before you break them. ...And clara ...Shepard [sic] is spelled shepherd...Learn correct english please

Wow. What people get all worked up about these days. I wonder if there is larger problems going on in this world that needs our attention besides this. Btw...it is nice to know the difference between the two pies. And I believe that you make a recipe according to what you like. But all in all. Who really cares.

HAHA I have never seen so many people fussed in my entire life...by the way my Mum is British and my Da is Irish. and neither of them make shepherds pie or cottage pie the same way, but they are both good and it is fun to change things up sometimes, after all it is only food... then again we are talking about countries that have been feuding for far too many years? hmmm maybe it truly started over this very argument. Cheers

Neil,

I thought your comment was great on the difference on shepherds pie and cottage pie. Up until now I always wondered why they called it shepherds pie when they used ground beef.

No matter what anyone thinks you keep on sharing your knowledge like that and your recipes with cooks all over the world.

Thanks, Elbert.

I am of English Irish heritage, and was raised on an eastern Colorado sheep ranch. I appreciate the author's efforts to keep the recipe "pure" so to speak. Kosher tradition keeps meat and dairy separate, even to the point of consuming it seperately at set interval spreads, because doing otherwise has resulted in consequences of poor health. I love lamb when it is properly prepared, and not compromised with things such as mint jelly to destroy the flavor.

I would like to do my own takes of this recepie with some North American variations such as Pronghorn "Antelope" which tastes very similar to lamb, or even going back to old English "Mutton" which has a stronger flavor than lamb. The pronghorn could be called "hunters pie", or if You made cottage pie with bison, and call it Araphoe Prairie Pie. I agree, though. Leave the cheese OUT! I can't even stand cheese on my burger!

Thanks for the recipe. Not a lamb lover but will try it. I always tweak recipes anyway AND this old American loves cheese!! Guess I can find a substitute for the Bisto?

What I think is hilarious is that we are still commenting on this recipe thats at least a year old (I think). Is it really that serious. lol. Neil thanks for the original version. By the way I love cheese so there will be cheese on my shepherds cottage pie...lol

the comment is true, we do confuse the two, shepherd and cottage pie.

I am also a Brit and aggee with your cheese comment. This recipe is perfect and I should know I've been eating Shepherds Pie made this way for fifty-five years!!! WELL DONE NEIL!

Last time I looked outside I don't recall any British restaurants out there. In fact, I don't recall anyone asking for British recipes either. Whether it's Shepherds or Cottage it sounds about as tasteless as the charmer who wrote it in here.