Design and fabrication of various gold micro- and nanostructures is a promising way to amplify surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals. Gold porous nanoplates were produced by simple heating aqueous solutions of HAuCl₄ and polyethylene glycol (PEG). The reaction was carried out in a one-pot, by one-step process at mild temperature, and PEG was used as capping agent and reducing agent in this cost-effective and environmentally benign fabrication strategy. Results show that the gold porous plates are about several micrometers in size and can be modified by experimental parameters such as growth time, PEG concentration, and gold ion concentration. The EDS measurements confirm the metallic nature of the cleaned gold porous nanoplates with no organic contaminants on the surface. The gold porous nanoplate substrate offers an excellent SERS-effect and exhibits a good reproducibility in SERS detection. Importantly, the as prepared gold porous plate substrates can be used for rapid and highly sensitive determination of organic pesticides such as thiram and phorate.