High-density amorphous silicon nanodots are easily produced by irradiating gold-nanoparticle-embedded silicon oxide nanowires with a low-intensity electron beam. The optical characteristics of Si nanodots in the vicinity of gold nanoparticles exhibit evidence of strong coupling to the surface plasmon resonance of the Au nanoparticies, as manifested by their markedly enhanced electron-induced excitation in our monochromated scanning transmission electron microscopy electron energy-loss spectroscopy measurements.