Chukku Kaapi and revisiting Aye Auto!

If you are from Kerala or if you follow Malayalam or if you love watching Malayalam movies you wouldn't have missed one of Mohanlal's best movies Aye Auto.I consider it one among my most favorite movies with stellar performances by almost all of the actors,my favorites being Mohanlal[of course!],Maniyanpilla Raju,Kunjan,Srinivasan,Pappu,Rekha and Thikkurishi among others.


But waitaminute,what is Aye auto doing on my blog?Let me come to that in a while.



Thanks to the unpredictable climate in Chennai these days and thanks to one of our very rare bike outings followed by a drenching-in-the-rain part,both of us were down with the usual symptoms of cold and flu.Coughing,throat pain,headache and all the works.First thing amma suggested was to have Chukku kaapi,a healthy concoction made with coffee powder,jaggery and dry ginger with pepper,jeera and tulasi leaves.

The moment amma said chukku kaapi,I googled and found out this movie clip from Aye auto where the poor autorickshaw-wala makes this kaapi for his super-rich girlfriend.[watch from 6.00 minute if you want to watch the exact scene]I am having this kaapi as I am watching the movie.I hope by the time the movie or the kaapi finishes,my throat pain and cold disappears too,wishful thinking!.




There is no precise recipe for this.Just boil about 1 1/2 cups of water,add 2-3 cubes[around 30-35gms]of karipetti[dark jaggery],a few tulasi leaves and let it boil.Add 1 tsp of chukku[dry ginger],1 tsp of coffee powder,1 tsp of crushed pepper and 1/2 tsp of jeera.


Let the whole mix come to a rolling boil,simmer for about 5 minutes.Drain and drink while it is piping hot.


Sending this to Kerala Kitchen.