Being married to a Brit I have to leave a comment... He says they called it "Shepard's Pie" however it had whatever leftover meat that could be minced & was available in the house and other than that the taste was good.

Wonderful, childhood memories and no stomach upset. Just hard to get good lamb in Texas.

Yeah because the Brits are SOOOO well know worldwide for their delicious, complex food. The rest of us are trying to do you guys a favor and put the Brit name on food that's actually edible

Thanks for the recipe that (FINALLY)..tasted like my Mom's :) As for the thin skinned sissies, ignore them and their lack of appreciation for sharing this yummy recipe!!

What a delight to find your authentic recipe and your comments concerning cheese which I dearly love but with/on/in appropriate dishes. Hasten to add I'm American, but spent thirty years overseas and London was my base for several of those. Find a restaurant (preferably family owned and operated) that serves a good pie and nothing can be better...especially with a fresh spring salad.

Ok, so there are many versions of this pie, and I assume I have always had the American version? What gets me is that this recipe has no 'English Peas' in it. I have never had Shepherds Pie without it.. Or is that Cottage Pie??

I think they are both snobs, but Shepard's pie is made with lamb or mutton. Just because your family calls it something doesn't make it correct and just because your family doesn't use cheese doesn't mean someone's elses doesn't either.

Where I come from, a barbecue (correct spelling, all others are wrong) sandwich is with smoked pork shoulder, barbecue slaw (not coleslaw, but cabbage with ketchup, cider vinegar, spices, and a tiny bit of sugar) and maybe a tablespoon of sauce. Should I tell everyone who eats a something different that they aren't eating a barbecue sandwich?

instead of saying add Bisto "if you know what it is", tell us WHAT it is so we can try to find it at the grociers' or list a reasonable substitution. No need to be stiff-upper-lippy.

I agree, blow this dude off. You can educate w/o being pompous. Americans, and others should be free to eat whatever they like - cheese included. Every recipe in the world has variations to it, what's the big deal? Also, I think lamb stinks, so I would make COTTAGE pie. Perhaps the English are less inclined to use beef products with their Mad Cow history, and now the horsemeat in their Taco Bell? (Truth be told, more in other places probably have it in their's too! It is all GROUND together, right??) Whether Neil was being tongue-in-cheek or serious, his comments came off as offensive & adds to perception of British snobbery. I love the British culture, and have a great sense of humor - the best comedies I recall are almost all British. So I'm not being a jerk.

As a senior citizen I remember shepherds pie or cottage pie were always prepared from the Sunday lunch leftovers (the bit of the the roast lamb or beef that was to small to be safely carved) so it was a way of getting another meal from the Sunday roast and as such would have included whatever else was left over in the fridge carrots parsnip whatever I've even used bits of ham or boiled bacon I wonder what that would be called.

Thank you for posting this it is my husband's favorite. I like to cook dishes the way they were meant to be cooked and even found Bisto at the store.

ha ha, as an American I could care less... just a little tongue and cheek, pretty funny actually. I did not take it as snobbish in anyway... actually it was a very good recipe. I enjoyed it very much and will make it again. I have to admit I did not know what Bisto was. Maybe, just maybe, next time I will add cheese ;)

I'm a legal citizen of the USA, honorary Canadian, genetically tied to the First People in North America, and related to the Danish and British royal families. Does that entitle me to a credible opinion on a very multi-faceted view of the ideal Shepherd's Pie? Whatever you have to work with, prepared whichever way you prefer, and eaten with whomever you choose: it's all GOOD. :-)

Yay for a cook standing up to his convictions and traditions! It's pretty obvious that all the snob-accusers still put cheese on top.

Ladies and Gents right in front of you is why there are so many dining places in merry old England and the USA we all like what we like so if Neil like it his way good for him On the other hand when your hand is stirring in your favorite little addition to shepherds pie or what ever just remember its a recipe not the bible. Put in what ever YOU LIKE.