A drink to help recuperate (3)
I believe the answer is:
cup
'a drink' is the definition.
(a cup of drink)
'help recuperate' is the wordplay.
'help' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue (I've seen 'helping of' mean this (I've seen this in other clues)).
'CUP' is hidden in the letters of 'recuperate'.
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for cup that I've seen before include "McCarthy, Walker or Maguire" , "competition" , "Prize; vessel" , "Trophy; drinking vessel" , "Drinking bowl" .)