The basic ingredients that is mixed with vinegared rice include dried shiitake mushrooms and gourd (both simmered in a soy broth), boiled carrots and lotus roots pickled in vinegar, and it is possible to make a chirashizushi dish that reflects the season by adding ingredients such as cherry petals pickled in sweetened vinegar or boiled bamboo shoots, etc.
酢飯の中に混ぜ込む具として、一般に干し椎茸やかんぴょうの煮しめ、茹でたニンジン、酢レンコンなどをベースに、たとえば桜の花びらの甘酢漬け、タケノコの水煮などで季節感を出すなどの工夫が可能である。