Neil has it right. If you want Shepherd's pie follow the British recipe use lamb. If you want cottage pie use anything you have. Lot's of folks on here trying to justify their ignorance. This recipe... yuk!

Right, first of all how are potatoes considered a "new world" thing? Ok they are native to America but different variations grow and are used in cuisine globally. There is over a thousand different types of potato.

As for shepherds pie, the clue is in the name, SHEPHERDS. It has lamb in it not beef or ham or whatever. Shepherds pie is a cottage pie made with lamb, and whilst yes variations on a meal are ok this is a variation of cottage pie, not shepherds pie, just saying.

Great recipe!!! Ah and Neil, you should stick to eating pre-made dinners. I hear hungry man is good?

Since when does a need to follow tradition supersede a need for food to taste good? I really don't think that Neil does that much cooking. He seems to spend all his time criticizing and correcting people on their interpretations of a famous dish. Since when it is wrong for people to share their taste and interpretation with the rest of us?

Neil, just because you are most likely a cook in a dinner, doesn't mean you are the best cook on the planet. For me to find a recipe that involves a baked pie with mashed potatoes and meat, I search for "Shepard's pie". I read several on here and pick the one that sounds the most tasty.

Who says it's just a British dish? Shepherd's Pie is a standard part of American home cooking, too. Like many other recipes, it underwent some change as it crossed the pond.

I agree with Neil. If this is a British dish then maybe it should be cooked that way if you are making if for British people. If you are making it for G.P. then yes, throw in the kitchen sink.. as long as the family enjoys it and they eat for the night.. right???

We used to call this "upside-down" version "Chinaman's Pie." It has a great crusty-browned crust of potato if you bake it hot enough - a glass dish helps view to make sure the potato starts browning nicely.

Interesting and odd that Shepherd's Pie is considered an English dish, since potatoes are New World, as is sweet corn, the usual vegetable of choice. This recipe even adds New World love-apples (tomatoes).

I love this site based on these comments alone. SOooo funny, and true! Still, Neil is correct that this does not really resemble shepherds pie and does sound a little icky to me (if I am in the mood for a more authentic shep. pie). And while it is true that the point of recipes are for variations- everything can be made hundreds of ways- that does not mean that I can say that my recipe for a hamburger is to take a lump of tuna mashed with soysauce and put it on a bun. That just isn't a hamburger. It's not about Brit or no Brit. It's a human thing.

Hey everybody, to each his or her own. Enjoy whatever it is you decide to try. We are all in this together, let's not make this about culture, where you are from, etc. Happy cooking!

I think Neil should keep his opinions to himself. The whole point of recipes is that everyone makes it their way. Not everything has to be "as the Brits do it". Who died and made you guys the experts at cooking? Us Germans got you beat by a long ways. Maybe you should spend more time sampling the world's cuisines instead of being so closed minded.

I have tears rolling down my face from laughing!! The British are not well known for their cuisine; in fact, just the opposite. My cousin went to college over there and darn near starved to death!

You make it seem as if Shepherds pie is an exact recipe. It is a poor mans way of making a meal with what you have laying around. There is no real recipe and I believe all of the recipes here sound pretty tasty. I will add whatever I wish to make it to my liking and if you dont like it, dont eat it. I'm not making it for you.

Surprise, surprise, surprise, I did not expect to see this again as I looked futher on this site for other shepherd pie recipes. Neil is at it again. This is just too funny. Thanks again everyone for the laughs.

Well one thing is quite certain neil, the brit. That is, after reading your posts,and there are several obnoxious replies to several recipes on this site, that you have fortified the vastly held opinion that most brits are quite impressed with themselves, and I still find little use for any opinions from across the pond.So please refrain from attempting to impress yourself with these useless and somewhat illiterate posts.